Stay ConnectedBooks of All Time tackles classic literature in chronological order. Each month, host Rose Judson summarizes a classic work of literature in one episode and then dives into the story behind it in the second episode.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Copyright: © Rose Judson
How did the works of Homer become so central to education in the west for so long? This episode tries to answer that question by exploring the roots of "classical" education, with a brief digression about Alexander the Great using Homer's Odyssey for municipal planning purposes. This episode also mentions E.A. Wallis Budge, in case any of our regular listeners missed him.
Need a transcript? Want to read some of Rose's references for yourself? Visit the Books of All Time website. Don't forget to rate, review, and share the show - it really does help new listeners find us.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Odyssey is very different from The Iliad - so different that some people thought it was actually written by a woman. This week, Rose walks you through the plot of the second great work of European literature, and recommends editions to try reading yourself. (You can also search for an audiobook version narrated by Sir Ian McKellan!)
As always, a transcript of this episode is available at our website, booksofalltime.co.uk, here. Please leave us a rating or review - it really helps others find the show. Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“In Homeric studies, every man’s hand is raised against his brother, and one never knows from what corner the next dead cat will come.” Jump into the Homeric Question(s) in our second episode covering the Iliad. Was there a Homer? Does The Iliad reflect any kind of real history? Who's more annoying: Homer nerds or Star Wars nerds? This episode features cameos from Dante Aligheri, Friedrich Nietzsche, William Gladstone (again), and Aristotle. You know, Aristotle.
As always, you can read the episode transcript (and check out links to Rose's sources) at our website, www.booksofalltime.co.uk. Click here to make the jump.
Like listening to us? Follow us on social media! We're on Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, and [the site formerly known as Twitter]. Don't forget to share us with friends, rate or review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
An epic poem deserves an epic, hour-long episode. Rose walks you through the great Homeric epic covering (a very small part of) the Trojan War. The Iliad is almost certainly the most-studied work in Western literature, but it can still surprise you. Come hear of the wrath of Achilles, and the Real Housewives of Mount Olympus, and that one poor guy who gets stuck headfirst in the ground.
Want to read the transcript? Visit our website to read it (and to see the references we used to write the episode). You can also find us on social media! We're on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and (ugh) the site formerly known as Twitter. Subscribe, rate, review and share!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, we grapple with the limitations of translation and the ethics of Western examination of other people's religions. Covering controversies involving the Indologists Max Müller (1823-1900) and Wendy Doniger (b. 1940), Rose explores the how the Sanskrit word Aryan became linked to the worst kind of racists,learns that fringe reactionary groups filing lawsuits to ban books aren't just an American thing, and squeezes in a reference to Miller's Crossing (Coen Brothers, 1990),
Want to read our transcript? In addition to providing an accessible version of the show for people with hearing impairments, it also includes links and the list of references used to create this episode—ideal if you want to learn more about the issues we talk about or find our social media links. Click here to head to our website and read the transcript now.
Don't forget to leave a rating and review, and share us with your friends!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Rig Veda (c. 1400-1500 BCE) is a massive collection of 1,028 hymns written by ancient people living in northwestern India, and it forms part of the foundation of Hindu faith. The hymns span myths, philosophy, spirituality, love, grief, and practical tips for making an incredibly powerful hallucinogenic drink. In this episode, Rose investigates some of the major themes in the Rig Veda and compares some of the themes in it to myths from other traditions.
PLEASE NOTE: This episode describes some scenes of human and animal sacrifice. If you're squeamish, take care.
Want to read the transcript or see the references Rose used to write this episode? Visit our website. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Instagram, or Facebook.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We weren't expecting multi-episode character arcs when we launched this show, but here we are. Rose wraps up the Egyptian Book of the Dead - and one of its most prominent early interpreters, E.A. Wallis Budge (1857-1934) by looking at how late 19th and early 20th-century occultists pilfered Egyptology for ideas. Also, Budge has a dream that helps him pass an exam at Cambridge.
Additional research for this episode by Matt Brough. Want to read the transcript or see the reading list for this episode? It's available here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In ancient Egypt, if you were rich enough, you'd be buried with a handy manual for surviving the afterlife within easy reach of your coffin — like having a novel on your nightstand. Find out what awaits you in the Duat where Osiris reigns, guarded by gatekeeper spirits with names like "Eavesdropper," "Hot Legs", and "One Who Eats the Putrefaction of His Posterior" in our summary of The Egyptian Book of the Dead
Transcript and reading list are available, as always, at our website, www.booksofalltime.co.uk.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode four looks at two key figures in the history of Egyptology: one, Jean-François Champollion, is well known as the man who cracked Egyptian hieroglyphics. The other, Giovanni Belzoni, was a carnival strongman and hydraulics engineer before becoming a renowned explorer—and excavator—of Egyptian monuments. Bonus cameo: Napoleon Bonaparte, ruining everything for everyone.
Read the transcript and see the reading list for this episode at our website. You can also follow us on Instagram!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We're off to Ancient Egypt for the next work on the Books of All Time reading list: The Tale of Sinuhe (c. 1875 BCE). It's a story about a royal advisor who runs away from Egypt after learning that the pharaoh has been assassinated, then creates a new life in another country. Host Rose Judson walks you through the plot, then muses on what it's like to be an immigrant, even in a country where you more or less speak the language. Transcript and additional reading available at our website!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
