The Literary Life Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 18: "The Vulture" by Samuel Johnson Sep 03, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to the final episode of our summer series on short stories and essays! Today your hosts Angelina Stanford and Cindy Rollins are joined once again by Thomas Banks for their discussion of Samuel Johnson's essay "The Vulture." Before getting into the meat of the essay, Angelina talks about why she disagrees with her own commonplace quote on the purpose of poetry. In the process, she gives us a brief history of literary periods from the classical to the neoclassical and enlightenment.

Thomas shares some more biographical information on Samuel Johnson and his work. Cindy highlights both the important place and the danger of satire, which is a popular neoclassical form and the one used in Johnson's essay. The discussion ends with thoughts on why Johnson's essay was finally not included with the others in The Idler collection, as well as what his purpose may have been in writing "The Vulture."

Be sure to tune in again on September 17, 2019 for "The Literary Life of Greg Wilbur," followed by three weeks of episodes on C. S. Lewis' An Experiment in Criticism. Our fall novel will be Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.

Upcoming Events:

September 19: How to Love Poetry Webinar with Thomas Banks

A Farewell to Arms

by George Peele

His golden locks Time hath to silver turn'd; O Time too swift, O swiftness never ceasing! His youth 'gainst time and age hath ever spurn'd, But spurn'd in vain; youth waneth by increasing: Beauty, strength, youth, are flowers but fading seen; Duty, faith, love, are roots, and ever green.

His helmet now shall make a hive for bees; And, lovers' sonnets turn'd to holy psalms, A man-at-arms must now serve on his knees, And feed on prayers, which are Age his alms: But though from court to cottage he depart, His Saint is sure of his unspotted heart.

And when he saddest sits in homely cell, He'll teach his swains this carol for a song,-- 'Blest be the hearts that wish my sovereign well, Curst be the souls that think her any wrong.' Goddess, allow this aged man his right To be your beadsman now that was your knight.

Book List:

(Amazon affiliate links)

A Writer's Notebook by W. Somerset Maugham

Little Britches by Ralph Moody

The History of Rasselas by Samuel Johnson

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathon Swift

Bird Life in Wington by John Calvin Reid

The Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell

Support The Literary Life:

Become a patron of The Literary Life podcast as part of the "Friends and Fellows Community" on Patreon, and get some amazing bonus content! Thanks for your support!

Connect with Us:

Find Angelina at https://angelinastanford.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ANGStanford/

Find Cindy at https://cindyrollins.net and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cindyrollins.net/

Jump into our private Facebook group, The Literary Life Discussion Group, and let's get the book talk going! http://bit.ly/literarylifeFB

Episode 17: "The Celestial Omnibus" by E. M. Forster Aug 27, 2019

Show notes

On this week's episode of The Literary Life, Angelina Stanford and Cindy Rollins are joined once more by Thomas Banks for their discussion of "The Celestial Omnibus" by E. M. Forster. Angelina and Cindy tell why they love this short story so much and how it encapsulates their own ideas about literature. Thomas gives us some biographical background on E. M. Forster. We get a brief look at the plot of the story, as well as some discussion of how allegorical Forster makes this story. Angelina highlights the idea presented in "The Celestial Omnibus" that what we see in fairy land is more real than what we see in our own world.

Other themes our hosts bring up include modern educational theory, wonder and innocence, using poetry versus enjoying it, and literary critique contrasted with experiencing literature. Their conversation hinges around the contrast between Mr. Bons' pride and pretension and the boy's humility and sincerity. This story embodies everything that The Literary Life podcast is all about, so we hope you enjoy both the story and this episode!

Summer of the Short Story:

Ep 18: "Vulture on War" by Samuel Johnson

Upcoming Events:

September 22: How to Love Poetry Webinar with Thomas Banks

Port of Aerial Embarkation

by John Ciardi

There is no widening distance at the shore— The sea revolving slowly from the piers— But the one border of our take-off roar And we are mounted on the hemispheres.

Above the waning moon whose almanac We wait to finish continents away, The Northern stars already call us back, And silence folds like maps on all we say.

Under the sky, a stadium tensed to cry The ringside savage thrumming of the fights, We watch our engines, taut and trained for sky, Arranged on fields of concrete flowered with lights.

Day after day we fondle and repeat A jeweler's adjustment on a screw; Or wander past the bulletins to meet And wander back to watch the sky be blue.

Somehow we see ourselves in photographs Held in our hands to show us back our pride When, aging, we recall in epitaphs The faces just behind and to each side.

The nights keep perfect silence. In the dark You feel the faces soften into sleep, Or tense upon the fraught and falling arc Of fear a boy had buried not too deep.

Finally we stand by and consciously Measure the double sense of all our talk, And, everyman his dramatist, anxiously Corrects his role, his gesture, and his walk.

Book List:

(Amazon affiliate links)

Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton

Mental Efficiency by Arnold Bennett

How to Live on 24 Hours a Day by Arnold Bennett

Anna of the Five Towns by Arnold Bennett

Howards End by E. M. Forster

Kristen Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset

The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis

Til We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis

Religio Medici by Thomas Browne

Support The Literary Life:

Become a patron of The Literary Life podcast as part of the "Friends and Fellows Community" on Patreon, and get some amazing bonus content! Thanks for your support!

Connect with Us:

Find Angelina at https://angelinastanford.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ANGStanford/

Find Cindy at https://cindyrollins.net and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cindyrollins.net/

Jump into our private Facebook group, The Literary Life Discussion Group, and let's get the book talk going! http://bit.ly/literarylifeFB

Episode 16: "Why I Write" by George Orwell Aug 20, 2019

Show notes

The topic of today's discussion on The Literary Life is George Orwell's essay "Why I Write." Angelina and Cindy kick off the conversation about how much they each identify with Orwell's description of his childhood. In his story of learning to write, we see many aspects of a good education, even his inclination to imitate other authors. An important point Angelina brings up is Orwell's own struggle against the calling he felt to write, in contrast to having an ambition to do so. Angelina brings up a related story about musician Gregory Alan Isakov, and Cindy reiterates the idea of why we need leisure in order to find our vocation.

Cindy and Angelina also bring out some of the qualities Orwell possessed that make a good writer. Maturity as a human being and as a master of a craft are crucial to certain forms of writing, as Orwell points out about his own work. Other topics of conversation include truth-telling in writing, the motives for writing according to Orwell, and the growing process of writers.

Summer of the Short Story:

Ep 17: "The Celestial Omnibus" by E. M. Forster

Ep 18: "Vulture on War" by Samuel Johnson

Live Bonus Episode on Patreon: "A Good Man is Hard to Find" by Flanner O'Connor on August 22, 2019

Upcoming Events:

August 26-29: Back to School Webinar with Cindy Rollins, Angelina Stanford, Thomas Banks and Adrienne Freas

September 22: How to Love Poetry Webinar with Thomas Banks

Veni, Creator Spiritus

by John Dryden

Creator Spirit, by whose aid The world's foundations first were laid, Come, visit ev'ry pious mind; Come, pour thy joys on human kind; From sin, and sorrow set us free; And make thy temples worthy Thee.

O, Source of uncreated Light, The Father's promis'd Paraclete! Thrice Holy Fount, thrice Holy Fire, Our hearts with heav'nly love inspire; Come, and thy Sacred Unction bring To sanctify us, while we sing!

Plenteous of grace, descend from high, Rich in thy sev'n-fold energy! Thou strength of his Almighty Hand, Whose pow'r does heav'n and earth command: Proceeding Spirit, our Defence, Who do'st the gift of tongues dispence, And crown'st thy gift with eloquence!

Refine and purge our earthly parts; But, oh, inflame and fire our hearts! Our frailties help, our vice control; Submit the senses to the soul; And when rebellious they are grown, Then, lay thy hand, and hold 'em down.

Chase from our minds th' Infernal Foe; And peace, the fruit of love, bestow; And, lest our feet should step astray, Protect, and guide us in the way.

Make us Eternal Truths receive, And practise, all that we believe: Give us thy self, that we may see The Father and the Son, by thee.

Immortal honour, endless fame, Attend th' Almighty Father's name: The Saviour Son be glorified, Who for lost Man's redemption died: And equal adoration be, Eternal Paraclete, to thee.

Book List:

(Amazon Affiliate Links)

Kristen Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Support The Literary Life:

Become a patron of The Literary Life podcast as part of the "Friends and Fellows Community" on Patreon, and get some amazing bonus content! Thanks for your support!

Connect with Us:

Find Angelina at https://angelinastanford.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ANGStanford/

Find Cindy at https://cindyrollins.net and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cindyrollins.net/

Jump into our private Facebook group, The Literary Life Discussion Group, and let's get the book talk going! http://bit.ly/literarylifeFB

Episode 15: "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant Aug 13, 2019

Show notes

On today's episode of The Literary Life, Angelina Stanford and Cindy Rollins discuss Guy de Maupassant's short story "The Necklace." Also, don't forget to register for the Back to School online conference on August 26-29, 2019 with Cindy and Angelina, as well as Thomas Banks and Adrienne Freas! Before getting into the short story discussion, Cindy and Angelina chat about what a "commonplace book" is and how they each go about recording quotes and thoughts, including the QuoteBlock app.

First off, Angelina gives us a little background on the author Guy de Maupassant and some information on French naturalism. Then she digs into her thoughts on how this story is a fairy tale in reverse and what that might mean in context. Cindy points out the perfection of de Maupassant's writing and his economy of style. They also bring up some of the formal elements of the story, particularly the key role the reversal takes in the plot. The main themes they find in "The Necklace" touch on common human struggles with ambition, discontentment, loss, suffering and gratitude.

Summer of the Short Story:

Ep 16: "Why I Write" by George Orwell

Ep 17: "The Celestial Omnibus" by E. M. Forster

Ep 18: "Vulture on War" by Samuel Johnson

Live Bonus Episode on Patreon: "A Good Man is Hard to Find" by Flanner O'Connor

On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer

by John Keats

Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold, And many goodly states and kingdoms seen; Round many western islands have I been Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold. Oft of one wide expanse had I been told That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne; Yet did I never breathe its pure serene Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: Then felt I like some watcher of the skies When a new planet swims into his ken; Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes He star'd at the Pacific—and all his men Look'd at each other with a wild surmise— Silent, upon a peak in Darien.

Book List:

(Amazon Affiliate Links)

Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

Kristen Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset

In This House of Brede by Rumor Godden

Support The Literary Life:

Become a patron of The Literary Life podcast as part of the "Friends and Fellows Community" on Patreon, and get some amazing bonus content! Thanks for your support!

Connect with Us:

Find Angelina at https://angelinastanford.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ANGStanford/

Find Cindy at https://cindyrollins.net and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cindyrollins.net/

Jump into our private Facebook group, The Literary Life Discussion Group, and let's get the book talk going! http://bit.ly/literarylifeFB

Episode 14: "The Adventures of a Shilling" by Joseph Addison Aug 06, 2019

Show notes

Today on The Literary Life, Cindy Rollins and Angelina Stanford are joined by a special guest, Angelina's husband, Thomas Banks! This week's selection for our summer series is Joseph Addison's "The Adventures of a Shilling." This episode is packed with book references, so scroll down for links to the titles mentioned!

The conversation today kicks off with an attempt at defining the "essay" form and giving a brief history on its development. Thomas shares a little background information on Joseph Addison and his writing, as well as several other essayists who came before and after Addison. Thomas also talks about why essays are a significant part of his reading life. The conversation also spins off into a discussion of the importance of how we spend our leisure time.

Finally, our hosts chat about this week's essay, which gives highlights of England's history from the perspective of a silver coin. Addison's tale is full of humor and satire, as well as layers of social commentary and pathos.

Don't forget to register for the Back to School online conference coming up on August 26-29, 2019 so you don't miss out on this awesome opportunity to "repair the ruins" of your own education.

Summer of the Short Story:

Ep 15: "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant

Ep 16: "Why I Write" by George Orwell

Ep 17: "The Celestial Omnibus" by E. M. Forster

Ep 18: "Vulture on War" by Samuel Johnson

When I Consider How My Light Is Spent

by John Milton

When I consider how my light is spent, Ere half my days in this dark world and wide, And that one talent which is death to hide Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest He returning chide; "Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?" I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need Either man's work or His own gifts. Who best Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state Is kingly: thousands at His bidding speed, And post o'er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait."

Book List:

(Amazon Affiliate Links)

Lives of the Poets by Samuel Johnson

The Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell

Dove Descending by Thomas Howard

Four Quartets by T. S. Elliot

The Essays by Sir Frances Bacon

The Essays: A Selection by Michel de Montaigne

The Defendant by G. K. Chesterton

The Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb

Confessions of an English Opium-Eater by Thomas de Quincy

Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell

Leisure: The Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper

Cato: A Tragedy by Joseph Addison

Gulliver's Travels and The Battle of the Books by Jonathon Swift

Support The Literary Life:

Become a patron of The Literary Life podcast as part of the "Friends and Fellows Community" on Patreon, and get some amazing bonus content! Thanks for your support!

Connect with Us:

Find Angelina at https://angelinastanford.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ANGStanford/

Find Cindy at https://cindyrollins.net and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cindyrollins.net/

Jump into our private Facebook group, The Literary Life Discussion Group, and let's get the book talk going! http://bit.ly/literarylifeFB

Episode 13: "The Garden Party" by Katherine Mansfield Jul 30, 2019

Show notes

This week on The Literary Life, Cindy and Angelina discuss Katherine Mansfield's short story "The Garden Party." Before starting today's episode, we want to encourage you to register for the Back to School online conference coming up on August 26-29, 2019!

After a great chat over their commonplace quotes, Angelina and Cindy dig into this week's short story, "The Garden Party." They start with how Cindy found this story and the connections she was making to Little Women. Angelina gives a brief biographical sketch of Katherine Mansfield and highlights how Mansfield's own illness and death give us insight into how she deals with death in this story. Angelina walks us through how she looks at the use of figurative language and images, such as the Garden of Eden. They also touch on "The Garden Party" having the same structure of moving toward a moment of epiphany that we saw in "Araby."

Cindy brings up the disconnect between the world of the women at home and the working people outside the home, as well as between the classes in this story. They talk about the importance of Laura's new hat as a symbol of one type of person she can become. Another image that Angelina and Cindy take a look at is the descent from the garden into darkness. They discuss the parallels from the beginning of the story and the end of the story, as well as Laura's movement from innocence to experience, from blindness to sight.

Summer of the Short Story:

Ep 14: "Adventures of a Shilling" by Joseph Addison

Ep 15: "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant

Ep 16: "Why I Write" by George Orwell

Ep 17: "The Celestial Omnibus" by E. M. Forster

Ep 18: "Vulture on War" by Samuel Johnson

The Truly Great

by Stephen Spender

I think continually of those who were truly great. Who, from the womb, remembered the soul's history Through corridors of light, where the hours are suns, Endless and singing. Whose lovely ambition Was that their lips, still touched with fire, Should tell of the Spirit, clothed from head to foot in song. And who hoarded from the Spring branches The desires falling across their bodies like blossoms. What is precious, is never to forget The essential delight of the blood drawn from ageless springs Breaking through rocks in worlds before our earth. Never to deny its pleasure in the morning simple light Nor its grave evening demand for love. Never to allow gradually the traffic to smother With noise and fog, the flowering of the spirit. Near the snow, near the sun, in the highest fields, See how these names are fêted by the waving grass And by the streamers of white cloud And whispers of wind in the listening sky. The names of those who in their lives fought for life, Who wore at their hearts the fire's centre. Born of the sun, they travelled a short while toward the sun And left the vivid air signed with their honour.

Book List:

(Amazon affiliate links)

Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis

The Weight of Glory by C. S. Lewis

How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster

Support The Literary Life:

Become a patron of The Literary Life podcast as part of the "Friends and Fellows Community" on Patreon, and get some amazing bonus content! Thanks for your support!

Connect with Us:

Find Angelina at https://angelinastanford.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ANGStanford/

Find Cindy at https://cindyrollins.net and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cindyrollins.net/

Jump into our private Facebook group, The Literary Life Discussion Group, and let's get the book talk going! http://bit.ly/literarylifeFB

Episode 12: "A Defence of Penny Dreadfuls" by G. K. Chesterton Jul 23, 2019

Show notes

On The Literary Life podcast today, Angelina Stanford and Cindy Rollins discuss G. K. Chesterton's essay "A Defence of Penny Dreadfuls." Before diving in to today's episode, don't forget to register for the amazing Back to School online conference coming up on August 26-29, 2019!

Angelina opens with a brief history of the Victorian era and the more prevalent availability of the novel to the masses. She also gives several examples of the "penny dreadful." Cindy and Angelina discuss why they agree with Chesterton that people need these simple, even formulaic stories. They remind us that childhood is a time for good books, not a time to worry about reading all the "Great Books."

Another topic that Cindy and Angelina chat about is the importance of developing imagination. They talk about the truth that fiction and story-telling are necessary parts of human culture. Cindy highlights the importance of the heroic adventure stories for boys. Angelina brings out the point that the elite critic is out of touch with the masses who long for stories of good winning over evil. The penny dreadful should not be judged as art, since that was never what it was intended to be.

Summer of the Short Story:

Ep 13: "The Garden Party" by Katherine Mansfield

Ep 14: "Adventures of a Shilling" by Joseph Addison

Ep 15: "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant

Ep 16: "Why I Write" by George Orwell

Ep 17: "The Celestial Omnibus" by E. M. Forster

Ep 18: "Vulture on War" by Samuel Johnson

Bavarian Gentians

by D. H. Lawrence

Not every man has gentians in his house in Soft September, at slow, Sad Michaelmas.

Bavarian gentians, big and dark, only dark darkening the daytime torchlike with the smoking blueness of Pluto's gloom, ribbed and torchlike, with their blaze of darkness spread blue down flattening into points, flattened under the sweep of white day torch-flower of the blue-smoking darkness, Pluto's dark-blue daze, black lamps from the halls of Dis, burning dark blue, giving off darkness, blue darkness, as Demeter's pale lamps give off light, lead me then, lead me the way.

Reach me a gentian, give me a torch let me guide myself with the blue, forked torch of this flower down the darker and darker stairs, where blue is darkened on blueness. even where Persephone goes, just now, from the frosted September to the sightless realm where darkness was awake upon the dark and Persephone herself is but a voice or a darkness invisible enfolded in the deeper dark of the arms Plutonic, and pierced with the passion of dense gloom, among the splendor of torches of darkness, shedding darkness on the lost bride and groom.

Book List:

Towards a Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason

War and Peace by Leo Tolsto

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

An Experiment in Criticism by C. S. Lewis

G. A. Henty books

Dave Dawson War Adventure Series

Support The Literary Life:

Become a patron of The Literary Life podcast as part of the "Friends and Fellows Community" on Patreon, and get some amazing bonus content! Thanks for your support!

Connect with Us:

Find Angelina at https://angelinastanford.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ANGStanford/

Find Cindy at https://cindyrollins.net and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cindyrollins.net/

Jump into our private Facebook group, The Literary Life Discussion Group, and let's get the book talk going! http://bit.ly/literarylifeFB

Episode 11: "Araby" by James Joyce Jul 16, 2019

Show notes

This week on The Literary Life, Cindy Rollins and Angelina Stanford open our Summer of the Short Story series with a discussion of "Araby" by James Joyce. Cindy and Angelina also announce an encouraging Back to School online conference coming up on August 26-29, 2019.

In delving into "Araby," Angelina talks about the history and development of the short story form. Cindy gives a little of her own background with reading James Joyce and why she loves his short stories. Angelina and Cindy also discuss the essential "Irishness" of this story and all the tales in The Dubliners. Angelina walks us through the story, highlighting the kinds of questions and things we should look for when reading closely. Themes discussed in this story include: blindness and sight, light and darkness, romanticism, religious devotion, the search for truth, money, courtly love, and the knight's quest.

Summer of the Short Story:

Ep 12: "A Defence of Penny Dreadfuls" by G. K. Chesterton

Ep 13: "The Garden Party" by Katherine Mansfield

Ep 14: "Adventures of a Shilling" by Joseph Addison

Ep 15: "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant

Ep 16: "Why I Write" by George Orwell

Ep 17: "The Celestial Omnibus" by E. M. Forster

Ep 18: "Vulture on War" by Samuel Johnson

Huxley Hall

by John Betjemen

In the Garden City Cafe‚ with its murals on the wall Before a talk on "Sex and Civics" I meditated on the Fall. Deep depression settled on me under that electric glare While outside the lightsome poplars flanked the rose-beds in the square. While outside the carefree children sported in the summer haze And released their inhibitions in a hundred different ways. She who eats her greasy crumpets snugly in the inglenook Of some birch-enshrouded homestead, dropping butter on her book Can she know the deep depression of this bright, hygienic hell? And her husband, stout free-thinker, can he share in it as well? Not the folk-museum's charting of man's Progress out of slime Can release me from the painful seeming accident of Time. Barry smashes Shirley's dolly, Shirley's eyes are crossed with hate, Comrades plot a Comrade's downfall "in the interests of the State". Not my vegetarian dinner, not my lime-juice minus gin, Quite can drown a faint conviction that we may be born in Sin

Book List:

(Affiliate Links)

To Pause on the Threshold by Esther de Waal

The Dubliners by James Joyce

Ulysses by James Joyce

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce

Support The Literary Life:

Become a patron of The Literary Life podcast as part of the "Friends and Fellows Community" on Patreon, and get some amazing bonus content! Thanks for your support!

Connect with Us:

Find Angelina at https://angelinastanford.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ANGStanford/

Find Cindy at https://cindyrollins.net and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cindyrollins.net/

Jump into our private Facebook group, The Literary Life Discussion Group, and let's get the book talk going! http://bit.ly/literarylifeFB

Episode 10: The Literary Life of Kelly Cumbee Jul 09, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of The Literary Life, Cindy and Angelina interview their long time friend and fellow reader, Kelly Cumbee. Kelly is a wife and homeschooling mother of seven who has given herself a highly literary education. Together they discuss how Kelly started reading at a very young age and the kinds of books she loved as a child. Kelly talks about her love for Edmund Spenser and how she began reading Spenser with her children. Angelina asks about Kelly's background and how she makes connections throughout her conversations and her reading. Another topic of conversation is how Kelly made time for books throughout the different seasons of life and how she didn't really start reading "hard books" until later in life. They wrap up the conversation discussing what Kelly is currently reading and with more encouragement to read widely and make connections.

Summer of the Short Story:

Ep 11: "Araby" by James Joyce

Ep 12: "A Defence of Penny Dreadfuls" by G. K. Chesterton

Ep 13: "The Garden Party" by Katherine Mansfield

Ep 14: "Adventures of a Shilling" by Joseph Addison

Ep 15: "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant

Ep 16: "Why I Write" by George Orwell

Ep 17: "The Celestial Omnibus" by E. M. Forster

Ep 18: "Vulture on War" by Samuel Johnson

Amoretti XXIII

by Edmund Spenser

Penelope for her Ulisses sake, Deviz'd a Web her wooers to deceave: In which the worke that she all day did make The same at night she did again unreave: Such subtile craft my Damzell doth conceave, Th' importune suit of my desire to shonne: For all that I in many dayes doo weave, In one short houre I find by her undonne. So when I thinke to end that I begonne, I must begin and never bring to end: For with one looke she spils that long I sponne, And with one word my whole years work doth rend. Such labour like the Spyders web I fynd, Whose fruitless worke is broken with least wynd. Book List:

(affiliate links)

A White Bird Flying by Bess Streeter Aldrich

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

The Secular Scripture by Northrop Frye

Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle

Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges

The Faerie Queen by Edmund Spenser

Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham

The Space Trilogy (The Ransom Trilogy) by C. S. Lewis

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis

Realm of Numbers by Isaac Asimov

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

Support The Literary Life:

Become a patron of The Literary Life podcast as part of the "Friends and Fellows Community" on Patreon. Thanks for your support!

Connect with Us:

Find Angelina at https://angelinastanford.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ANGStanford/

Find Cindy at https://cindyrollins.net and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cindyrollins.net/

Jump into our private Facebook group, The Literary Life Discussion Group, and let's get the book talk going! http://bit.ly/literarylifeFB

Episode 9: Are Women Human? Jun 11, 2019

Show notes

Today on The Literary Life, Angelina Stanford and Cindy Rollins discuss Dorothy L. Sayers' essay "Are Women Human?" They explore the ideas that Sayers wrestles with in the essay, including: the Victorian view of women, the significance of the industrial revolution, the human need for meaningful occupation, and the early feminist movement and women's suffrage.

Angelina and Cindy also discuss the history of women's work inside and outside of the home and how they have been impacted by industry and our production-consumption culture. They take a fascinating look at the effects of the Enlightenment on women in the modern western world, as well as the problem of over-generalization and categorizing people according to classes. Finally, Cindy and Angelina highlight the importance of asking yourself the question: "Who am I supposed to be as a mother and a woman?"

Upcoming Events and Shows:

June 20: Live Q&A Session on the Patreon page for "Fellows"

July 9: The Literary Life of Kelly Cumbee

July 16: Araby by James Joyce (The Summer of the Short Story)

Villon

by Siegfried Sassoon

They threw me from the gates: my matted hair Was dank with dungeon wetness; my spent frame O'erlaid with marish agues: everywhere Tortured by leaping pangs of frost and flame, So hideous was I that even Lazarus there In noisome rags arrayed and leprous shame, Beside me set had seemed full sweet and fair, And looked on me with loathing.

But one came Who laid a cloak on me and brought me in Tenderly to an hostel quiet and clean; Used me with healing hands for all my needs. The mortal stain of my reputed sin, My state despised, and my defilèd weeds, He hath put by as though they had not been.

Book List:

New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton

Seeking God by Esther De Waal

Raids on the Unspeakable by Thomas Merton

Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy Sayers

Thanks to our Sponsor:

The Literary Life Podcast is brought to you New College Franklin. Located in beautiful Franklin Tennessee, NCF is a four year Christian Liberal Arts college dedicated to excellent academics and discipling relationships among students and faculty.

Support The Literary Life:

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Find Angelina at https://angelinastanford.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ANGStanford/

Find Cindy at https://cindyrollins.net and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cindyrollins.net/

Jump into our private Facebook group, The Literary Life Discussion Group, and let's get the book talk going! http://bit.ly/literarylifeFB