Reviews - Page 6 | The History of Literature Podcast

Great Beowulf pan

I hated Beowulf in high school. I see now, courtesy of the latest podcast, why. The illustration of 'lost works' compared to "Chopping Mall" was wonderful. Keep it up Jacke. If people can't tell by now, I really like this podcast. You will also.

English Major1984
Sept. 7, 2017

Depth and Breadth

Meditations and conversations that explore the vast terrain of literature. Jacke is a steady guide who knows how to point out the good stuff. Often whimsical, reliably poignant, and never dull, The History of Literature is an eavesdropper's mother lode.

BozerT
Aug. 5, 2017

Nice podcast for book nerds!

I feel like this is the only podcast of its kind!

maggiethecat9
July 23, 2017

A Great Listen

Quite simply the best podcast out there on the history of literature. Accept no imitations. My favorite episodes are when Jacke and Mike Palindrome take off the gloves and have at it (I'll even forgive Mike for dissing Don Quixote).

@scottferk
July 2, 2017

Charming and Profound

Jacke makes you feel like a friend and fellow traveler on this intellectual odyssey.

Lantern_Jack
June 19, 2017

Earnest

The premise is great for the amateur admirer of literature.

notveryinsightful
June 15, 2017

Here's your night train to the stars

I've never written a review of a podcast before, but since I've gotten so much pleasure out of The History of Literature podcast (and its related podcasts, The Restless Mind Show and The Jacke Wilson Show), I felt I owed it to host Jacke Wilson to say publicly how wonderful I think his shows are. Mr. Wilson is a superb storyteller first and foremost, and he approaches everything he discusses with a humility and a humanity that is charming and captivating. He covers a great deal of territory in the history of literature (as the title says -- he ain't lyin'), but he does so anecdotally rather than encyclopedically. He's always insightful and down to earth at the same time, intimiate yet incisive. Listening is like being on a train going over the Himalayas, or through the Alps, or maybe sailing through the Milky Way, sipping tea and looking out the window and laughing. Thank you for this treasure trove of knowledge, wisdom, and stories.

Thee Gravedigger
May 30, 2017

Interesting & Smart

Thank you Jacke. This podcast is a joy to listen to. I cried tears of joy as I listened to the Madame Bovary episode. I'm still trying to understand what Gar is.

DRLee13
May 15, 2017

Surprisingly Engaging

I normally approach literature podcasts with a sense of apprehension, for the topics and narrative are like watching paint dry without having the benefit of getting the contact high. I'm glad to say this one is different. Both topics and narration are crisp, intelligent and completely engaging. I normally pan podcasts when they get involved in politics, but this one successfully dodged the one star bullet by being thoughtful and rational when discussing Donald Trump on one earlier episode--which hasn't been the case for other liberal hosts. Regardless, I am glad I found this podcast and I always spread the word on it's cute, wholesome whimsy! Great job! --Steven Pohl

steven pohl
April 17, 2017

Something to look forward to

Free flowing discussion of a wide variety of literary works which often 'devolves' into charming and insightful tangents of the host, Jacke. I love his insistence on rejecting the 'snobbery' and gatekeeping that often goes hand in hand with the study of literature. This podcast has become something I look forward to each week and I hope it continues to grow and succeed.

Swooti
April 3, 2017

Fortuitous Search

I thought I'd search for a literature podcast, as I love classic literature; but I did not know exactly what I was looking for. It turns out, this was it!

Mccullou
March 23, 2017

Better than Beyonce

Some people listen to Beyonce while they run, I listen to Jacke Wilson. I find it easy to get pulled into the literary discussions, and it is thrilling to hear someone speak with such passion and knowledge on a topic about which I care so deeply. If you are a bookwork (or runner!) this podcast is worth a listen.

Jessicaw22
March 14, 2017

Unpretentious, Engaging, & Relaxing

I really appreciate this podcast. For one thing, as a lover of books I'm always looking for entertaining dicusions on books or literary figures. What's nice about this podcast is the "layman's" feel of it, by which I mean the host (Jacke Wilson) is not pretentious in anyway. Personally, my favorite episodes are the one where the Jacke tells a story from his life involving literature in some way. Examples of this are te episode of Flaubert's Madame Bovary and the episode on Proust and Pound. Overall, it's a pleasant podcast about classic books.

Astn
March 10, 2017

My new favourite podcast

I can't stop listening to this. I might need an intervention soon.

Mahmoud A.
March 2, 2017

Longtime listener

I'm a swing shift housekeeper (read: janitor) at a Veterans' Hospital, so podcasts help my night go. It took me about a month to get through the entire backlog, and I eagerly await Jacke's postings every week. He doesn't really have a radio voice, but his concise summaries of the material and themes of his books are incredible. The interviews are unparalleled, with surprise bonus questions that throw EVERYBODY off.

SlasherJunkie
Feb. 27, 2017

Such a great show!

If you love literature and discussion this is the show for you! I always listen on my drives and walks throughout my city of Prague. Love it! Thank you!

Maisiek
Feb. 24, 2017

Like the Great Lectures

This podcast reminds me of the Teaching Company 's Great Courses series. Great intellectual treats. Makes you feel like one of the literati

Jack paulson
Feb. 23, 2017

Wonderful

The host Jacke is a wonderful storyteller. He talks about life and the human condition in literature with such passion that you'll want to drop everything, run to a bookstore and buy the epic of Gilgamesh. I especially love how raw and unscripted the episodes seem. They feel like a conversation with a friend.

Keetu Jayakumar
Feb. 22, 2017

History of Literature

This is a fabulous podcast! I give it an enthusiastic 5 star rating. Since I discovered it a few weeks ago, I have downloaded every episode and listened to over 30 of them. Jacke is the perfect host--warm, witty, personable and entertaining, all the while interviewing fascinating authors, introducing his listeners to great new authors, or discussing classics. Every podcast is a treat to listen to. I urge you to subscribe so that you don't miss a single podcast. I save mine so I can re-listen to them, and frankly, I'm dreading the day when I reach the final episode. To fortify myself against that day, I have ordered from Amazon Jacke's two novellas, THE RACE and THE PROMOTION, and am eagerly looking forward to reading them. Bottom line: A brilliant podcast by an exceptional human being.

DebbieReviewer
Feb. 18, 2017

What the world needs

This is an amazing podcast. Covers so much but in a way that is entertaining as well as informative and very funny. Jacke Wilson really nails what’s wonderful about literature and the endeavor/struggle in trying to spend every waking moment reading and discussing it.

Only the writing matters
Nov. 26, 2016

Excellent and Informative

Great podcast. Love to hear about old favorites and discover authors and novels I should have known already. Suggestions: Joseph Conrad (specifically Nostromo), Bulgakov, Barthelme, Houellebecq, Amos Oz, Isaac Singer. Keep up the awesome work and thank you!

DanTheListener
Oct. 28, 2016

A unique voice

Boy, can this man sell fish! Jacke Wilson is a wonderful voice in the podcast universe. Knowledgeable, sincere, silly, Wilson is invaluable like an endangered species. He does not just love literature but life and it comes through loud and clear in each episode. I really like the idea that he is coming to me through the small media like someone on shortwave. Subversive for all the right reasons. I am an English professor and a reader and a writer and Jacke Wilson is like my Batman.

storyteller/educator
Oct. 15, 2016

History of Literature

Great subject matter, but sound quality, at least for me, is terrible.

Sooch49
Sept. 13, 2016

Refreshing, intimate and engaging!

This is the type of podcast I was looking for. As a graduate student in literature, I find this to be a refreshing reader response that truly connects, engages and highlights the texts that are examined. The presentation is informal, and sustains a level of intimacy that I hope will never be lost. There are small snippets of commentary such as go grab some tea or interspersed anecdotal material that makes me long for the days of reading in coffee shops, detached amid the bustling world. I think this is the feel of the podcast, as I catch up with the episodes that run across the globe from Gilgamesh to the current state of Lit through MFA programs.

cheerdown
July 14, 2016