The Literary Life Podcast

By: Angelina Stanford Thomas Banks
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  • Summary

  • Not just book chat! The Literary Life Podcast is an ongoing conversation about the skill and art of reading well and the lost intellectual tradition needed to fully enter into the great works of literature. Experienced teachers Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks (of www.HouseOfHumaneLetters.com) join lifelong reader Cindy Rollins (of www.MorningtimeForMoms.com) for slow reads of classic literature, conversations with book lovers, and an ever-unfolding discussion of how Stories Will Save the World. And check out our sister podcast The Well Read Poem with poet Thomas Banks.
    ©Cindy Rollins 2019
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Episodes
  • Episode 242: "Murder Must Advertise" by Dorothy L. Sayers, Intro and Ch. 1-5

    Episode 242: "Murder Must Advertise" by Dorothy L. Sayers, Intro and Ch. 1-5
    Sep 17 2024

    Welcome back to The Literary Life podcast and the beginning of our series on Dorothy L. Sayers' classic detective novel, Murder Must Advertise. Beginning with the Golden Age of the detective novel and the backdrop of World War I, Angelina and Thomas give some historical background to provide a setting for this novel. Angelina also shares some biographical information about Dorothy Sayers and her literary education and advertising work. As they dig into the opening chapters of this novel, our hosts talk about Lord Peter Wimsey, his name and character. They also talk at some length about the "Bright Young Things" circle and their place in society during the post-WWI era.

    To see all the books and links mentioned in today's episode, visit our website for the complete show notes here: https://theliterary.life/242/.
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • Episode 241: Why Read Dante with Jason Baxter

    Episode 241: Why Read Dante with Jason Baxter
    Sep 10 2024

    On this week’s episode of The Literary Life podcast, we are excited to bring you a new conversation with hosts Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks and their guest Dr. Jason Baxter. They open the discussion with some thoughts on why Dante has had renewed popularity in recent days. Jason talks about the big questions that poets seek to answer, and what some of the obstacles modern readers might have when approaching Dante for the first time. Thomas asks whether Dante had a precedent for making himself a character in his own epic. Angelina brings up the question of what it means that The Divine Comedy is poetry rather than some other genre. Other topics they discuss are Dante’s cosmology, his psychological precision, how to approach The Divine Comedy for the first time, and Jason’s own translation work.

    To see all the books and links mentioned in today's episode, visit our website for the complete show notes here: https://theliterary.life/241/.
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • Episode 240: "Best of" Series - The Importance of Detective Fiction, Ep. 3

    Episode 240: "Best of" Series - The Importance of Detective Fiction, Ep. 3
    Sep 3 2024

    Today on The Literary Life Podcast, we bring you another episode from the vault, this time to prepare you for our upcoming discussion of Dorothy L. Sayers' detective novel Murder Must Advertise. In this conversation, Angelina and Cindy talk all things related to the detective novel. Why do we love detective fiction so much? What are the qualities of a good detective novel? What is the history of detective fiction, and how did World War I bring about the Golden Age of the genre? Angelina and Cindy answer all these questions and more. Be sure to visit the shownotes page for this episode for links to all the books and authors mentioned in this episode here -->> https://theliterary.life/240/.
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    1 hr and 2 mins
Art Literary History & Criticism
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Featured Article: We’re Booked—The Best Literature Podcasts for Every Bibliophile


Love everything books and literature? Of course, you do—that’s why you're here! Don’t worry, you’re in good company. If you're a book aficionado who loves chatting about literature with like-minded people, literature podcasts are the perfect addition to your listening lifestyle. There’s no shortage of great book podcast options to choose from. Here are just a few of the best literature podcasts, covering many different genres and styles of podcasting.

Featured Article We’re Booked The Best Literature Podcasts for Every Bibliophile

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Profile Image for KnitWit

the absolute best

I have become a literary life podcast proselyte. I can't stop talking about it and recommending it. stories will save the world.

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Profile Image for L. Nicholas

Get a Literary Education here!

I have loved listening to these three talk about books. I am always on the hunt for my next good read and was at a standstill until i started this podcast! They bring history and meaning into their discussion. They have a delightful viewpoint that helps me think through what I'm reading.

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Profile Image for Kindle Customer

Brilliant work

The people at LitLife will hold your hand and gently walk you through literature if that is what you need, while also providing robust, thoughtful, informed ideas for those who crave that. It is a rare gift to be able to do both with such wisdom, grace, and humour.
I am not a podcast person, and this and their poetry podcast are the only podcasts I listen to with any kind of regularity. Subscribe. They will not waste your time.

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Profile Image for R. Sheppard

wow!

I love this episode! I'm reading Northanger Abbey with my homeschool mama book club and I remembered that the Literary Life podcast did a series on it. Wow! Cindy and Angelina brought the book to life!

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Profile Image for Amy Harris

My favorite podcast!

I've been listening to LitLife since it began and every single episode is like a graduate level seminar in literature, without the pretension and student loan debt. Angelina's knowledge & passion combined with Cindy's wisdom, experience, gentle spirit, and wit create a fun and enjoyable discussion on books. I also enjoy Thomas' poems and contributions to the conversation. The only suggestion that I have is that I wish there were an alternative platform besides FB for the LitLife discussion group ( Mighty Networks perhaps?) My family is traveling full-time now, so following along with the LitLife is now my bookclub. Thanks for enriching my life. Stories will change the world!

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Profile Image for Ruthi reads

Fantastic episode

My first introduction to Charlotte Mason was Susan Schaeffer Macaulay's book For the Children's Sake 25 to 30 years ago so I'm already a fan of sorts, but really enjoyed learning more about her in this episode.

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Full of both beauty and fun

I've been listening to the LL podcast for over 2 years. The hosts are experts in their fields, but manage to distill the information about books and literature in a way that is both informative and FUN. I appreciate the way they explain how books, symbols, themes, etc fit into the literary tradition to help explain things that would have been understood in earlier epochs, but whose meanings are lost today. Thanks for the world you open each podcast, LL!

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Profile Image for John Thoreson

being preached to was like bait and switch.

I will not return to this podcast. Using the podcast to peach the idea that all authors of a genre are agreeing with the biblical view of original sin, (whether the authors knew it or not),
was a shocking bit of bias and simple- minded pursuit...

You should re- title your podcast so that sceptical folks who love literature won't have to listen to the religious filters you speak through.

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