11 episodes
The Great Books of Literature Podcast The IPA
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- Arts
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4.6 • 9 Ratings
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IPA Executive Director John Roskam and News Ltd Journalist and host of The Bolt Report Andrew Bolt discuss the great books of literature. Each episode covers a new book as the pair discuss the themes, the lives of the authors and the impact each book has had on civilisation
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Bonus Episode: On Reading 10 Great Books
In this bonus episode of the IPA's Great Books of Literature Podcast, John Roskam and Andrew Bolt talk about which book was their favourite, which characters stuck out for them, which author's life was most interesting to learn about and what they learned from reading 10 of the great books of Western Civilisation
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Episode 10: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Brothers Karamazov is one of the most influential books ever written. Dostoevsky uses the book to explore morality, religion and the concept of free will.
In this episode, John Roskam and Andrew Bolt discuss the book, its themes and the life of Dostoevsky -
Episode 9: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice is the most popular romantic comedy of all time. This comedic look at marriage and relationships has sold over 20 million copies since being published in 1813.
John Roskam and Andrew Bolt discuss the book, its themes and the life of Jane Austen -
Episode 8: The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth
The Radetzky March is one of the most important novels of the 20th Century. Spanning three generations of the Trotta family, The Radetzky March explores culture and patriotism amidst a dying empire in the lead up to the First World War.
John Roskam and Andrew Bolt discuss these themes, the book and the life of Joseph Roth -
Episode 7: The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope
The Way We Live Now is Anthony Trollope’s searing criticism of the corruption at the top of British society. It was listed at number 22 in The Guardian’s top 100 books of all time. In this episode, John Roskam and Andrew Bolt discuss Trollope's life, the book and its themes.
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Episode 6: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Heart of Darkness is one of the most famous and most important works to come out of the colonialist era. Marlow’s venture into the Congo to find Kurtz is gripping and dark, and raises many questions about civility and the savagery that lies in every person. Andrew and John discuss whether, after reading the book, one can view Western Civilisation and its history in the same way as they had before.
John Roskam and Andrew Bolt discuss the book, its themes and the life of Joseph Conrad
Customer Reviews
Wonderful!
It’s an eye opener for me! Bravo to you guys, you’ve found a time to reread these books for us listeners and to make an analysis of everything what goes along with the book. So insightful!! For instance I’ve never understood why people like so much Wuthering Heights, it was too depressing, dark and heavy for me, full of hate etc, just an unpleasant reading, I never could see the love there… But now I look at this book a bit differently, I understand that Emily had such a hard childhood, of course it’s just natural to see things that way after all she went through. Basically all episodes on each book gave me a lot, so far I’m very satisfied. After listening about Cervantes I must reread the Don Quixote, gosh, it’s wonderful!!! Discovered also Zorba the Greek - I’ve never heard of this book, how embarrassing. And as a Russian- I’m looking forward to listen all about Karamazovs. I have to round up by saying thank you, you did a great job, so useful for people who love reading, so so interesting to listen your discussions. I’m grateful for finding this podcast! Updated on 03.09.2021 - I’ve just listened to a couple of more episodes. All what I can say - thank you again for a brilliant analysis. I want to read or reread all the books you’re talking about. Your podcast is doing magic for me, it’s a yoga for my mind.
04.09.2021 Just have listened the Karamazov Brothers episode. Still sobbing.. will be difficult to take from my mind that horrid incident about the boy and the dogs (Game of Thrones). I just hope that the last bonus episode will help to forget it. But otherwise the podcast is wonderful! I’m so happy that I found it and listen through all the episodes. One left to go.
Re: The Leopard / Great Books
Good try Andrew Bolt for having a look at it.
“As the three daughters have their most prized possessions, religious relics investigated by a Priest…Which stand for a powerful metaphor for the attitudes and beliefs of…his family and his class” - James Bolt
Seriously? Some are deemed real and some are not. The collection is the collection of one sister only, Carolina. This says more about suburban Australia and cribbing notes online the night before than anything else.
“A house of which one knowsevery room wasn’t worth living in”? Same with books and simplistic summaries.
And seriously, the notion shared that people who are religious don’t have imperfections and transparent failings is self-evidently absurd. Ever read Greene’s The Power and the Glory or Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited? Or lived?
“A book about death, about mortality, and about food…” (James Roskam)
Seriously?? About food?
“I’ve never finished the book…just like Visconti’s Death In Venice” (James Roskam)
Seriously? Death in Venice is by Thomas Mann. This is like saying you’ve: ‘never finished Thomas Keneally's Schindler's List…just like Spielberg's Jurassic park.’ Different authors. Different mediums.