Lost Ladies of Lit Amy Helmes & Kim Askew

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a Text Message.Writers Carson McCullers and W.H. Auden, literary editor George Davis, composer Benjamin Britten and burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee... once upon a time they all lived together in a house in Brooklyn Heights, an early 1940s version of the sitcom "Friends," only this one populated by an ever-changing mix of creative geniuses. Amy explains more about this merry (and often inebriated) band of misfits and their communal living arrangement in this week's...

Send us a Text Message.Guest Carrie Courogen, author of the acclaimed new bio "Miss May Does Not Exist," joins us to discuss comic genius Elaine May. Known for her groundbreaking work in comedy, screenwriting, directing, and acting, May rose to fame as part of the iconic comedy duo Nichols and May. Despite her significant contributions to films like "Tootsie" and "The Birdcage," she often chose to remain uncredited, creating an air of mystery around her achievements. Carrie Courogen provides ...

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a Text Message.Marcel Duchamp created one of the most influential works of art in the 20th century. Or did he? There are some who theorize that a woman — “proto-punk” poet and Dada-ist Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven — is the true genius behind the groundbreaking “Fountain” urinal sculpture that rocked the art world in 1917. Learn more about this attention-seeking baroness and the potential evidence linking her to this iconic artwork in this week’s episode. And sta...

Send us a Text Message.In this special catch-up episode, we take a breather to share updates and insights from our recent reads, including works by Sylvia Townsend Warner and Radclyffe Hall. Amy introduces a quirky new business idea inspired by silent disco and Shakespeare, and we invite listeners to text feedback using a new ‘text us’ feature. Plus, we tease upcoming episodes, including one on screenwriter Elaine May, and announce exclusive bonus content for Patreon members. Tune in fo...

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a Text Message.Inspired by Barbara Comyns, who lived with an unusual assortment of pets over the years, this bonus episode explores female authors who owned pet monkeys. Amy discusses Virginia Woolf and her Nazi-disarming marmoset Mitz, Nellie Bly’s fez-wearing travel companion, McGinty, and other primates who captured the hearts of some lesser-known women writers, including Miles Franklin, Mickey Hahn, Emily Carr and Clarice Lispector. For episodes and sho...

Send us a Text Message.Barbara Comyns was recently called, “the best English novelist you’ve never heard of” and her unsettling gothic novels are equal parts enchanting and horrific. Joining us is Avril Horner, author of "Barbara Comyns: A Savage Innocence," who offers insight into Comyns' unique blend of dark humor and her empathetic portrayals of vulnerable protagonists. Graham Greene was a fan and wrote of her, “The strange offbeat talent of Miss Comyns and that innocent eye which observes...