The Back of the Book

Ricochet
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In The Back of the Book, host Christopher J. Scalia interviews writers, scholars, and other expert guests about culture and the arts. Listen to The Back of the Book, along with more than 40 other original podcasts, at Ricochet.com. No paid subscription required.

  1. 6D AGO

    Stories in Stanzas

    Sunil Iyengar, editor of an outstanding new poetry anthology, joins the podcast to discuss all things narrative verse: its origins, its virtues, and its place in contemporary poetry. He and Chris also take turns reading some memorable narrative poems, including some of their own.  Show notes: Sunil's new anthology, The Colosseum Book of Contemporary Narrative VerseAndy Ferguson on John McCain and Robert Service's “The Cremation of Sam McGee"Sunil's poem “The Omission” (New Verse Review)Chris's poem “Singing Along to Billy Joel at My Roommate’s First Wedding” (New Verse Review) Time stamps: 5:00 – Why narrative poetry? 17:09 – The Colosseum Book of Contemporary Narrative Verse 36:05 – Memorable narrative poems 57:06 – Poems by Sunil and Chris Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist. Produced by Sean Doolan.

    1h 2m

  2. FEB 21

    Brooke’s Books

    Literary critic Brooke Allen drops by to talk about her new essay collection, Good Bones: Glorious Relics from the Age of Reading. She and Chris also discuss Brooke’s idiosyncratic career path (including her time writing for Divorce Court), the emergence of a post-literate culture, and the future of criticism. Show notes: Brooke’s new collection, Good BonesBrooke’s New Yorker essay on Bennington's Prison Education InitiativeBrooke’s essays for The New CriterionAdam Kirsch on the decline of book reviewsDavid Brent (Ricky Gervais) analyzes the poetry of Sir John BetjemanTime stamps: 1:58 – Good bones: Updike, Betjeman, Nash, and Hunt 26:02 – The art of the literary biography 32:20 – Brooke’s career 40:23 – “Post-literacy” & the future of criticism Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist. Produced by Sean Doolan

    59 min

  3. FEB 5

    Inklings in Battle

    Joseph Loconte drops by to talk about his new book, The War for Middle-earth: J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Confront the Gathering Storm, 1933–1945. He and Chris discuss the friendship between Tolkien and Lewis, the impact of both world wars on their literary lives, and how they influenced each other's most celebrated works. Show notes: Joseph's new book, The War for Middle-earthThe Rivendell CenterLearn more about J.R.R. TolkienLearn more about C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters Time stamps: 1:48 – A "beachhead of resistance" against Modernism 19:58 – The Inklings amid the gathering storm 34:52 – World War II, Mere Christianity, and the Lord of the Rings 59:04 – Friendship and the Rivendell Center Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist. Produced by Sean Doolan.

    1h 5m

  4. JAN 22

    The Rhythm of the Saints

    Poet and critic James Matthew Wilson drops by to share a few poems, discuss his writing process, and consider the re-emergence of form in contemporary poetry. Chris and James also discuss efforts to foster literary excellence in the culture more broadly. The episode includes its federally mandated Seinfeld reference, but this time it’s James who brings it up. Show notes: ·         James’s most recent poetry collection, Saint Thomas and the Forbidden Birds       The Colosseum Institute        University of St. Thomas’s MFA program          “Quarantine Notebook” – Part XI          Adrienne Rich reads “At a Bach Concert” Time stamps:  4:11 – Formalism and narrative poetry 18:17 – Publishers, literary journals, and MFA programs 29:06 – Saint Thomas and the Forbidden Birds 43:05 – “Quarantine Notebook” Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist.  Produced by Sean Doolan.

    57 min

  5. 12/23/2025

    A Holly Jody Christmas

    For this special Christmas episode, Chris is joined by Joseph Bottum, a distinguished man of letters who has written extensively about the Yuletide season. They discuss the significance of the holiday and the festivities (both old and new) associated with Christmas, its various literary portrayals over the years, and Jody’s own Christmas essays and tales. Show notes: Jody's book of Christmas-themed essays and tales, Frankincense, Gold, and MyrrhJody's memoir of Christmases of his youth, The Christmas PlainsJody's Christmas essays for First Things, The Lamp, Law & Liberty, Public Discourse, and The Wall Street JournalJody's Christmas EP, Grace and Gladness Time stamps: 1:39 – The literary qualities of Christmas 15:45 – The opulence and "thickness" of Christmastime 25:38 – Jody's literary influences and the tradition of the Christmas story 33:40 – Dickens as "the great unconscious novelist" 43:29 – Jody's Christmas tales and Chesterton's poem "The House of Christmas" Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist. Produced by Sean Doolan.

    53 min

  6. 12/11/2025

    Mind, Muscle, and Mimesis

    Chris is joined by Jordan Castro, a novelist, essayist, and the deputy director of the Cluny Institute. They discuss Jordan’s new novel, Muscle Man, as well as the discontents of academia, Jordan’s literary influences, the place of fiction in contemporary America, and their favorite campus novels. Show notes:  Jordan’s new novel, Muscle ManJordan’s essay on weightlifting for Harper’sJordan’s previous novel, The NovelistThe Cluny InstituteTime stamps:  1:52 – Portraying the embodied life 9:58 – Violence and the Gothic 20:18 – Mimesis in academic culture 29:31 – Writing complex characters 41:09 – Are men reading fiction? 48:08 – Genre and influences Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist. Produced by Sean Doolan.

    55 min

  7. 11/26/2025

    Solly’s Special: Thanksgiving and Its Jewish Roots

    For this special Thanksgiving episode, Chris is joined by Meir Soloveichik, the Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel (the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States) and the director of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University. They discuss the Jewish origins of the Thanksgiving holiday, the history of Jews in America, and the current plight of antisemitism in American politics. Show notes: For Solly’s writing about Thanksgiving, see here and here.Solly’s recent essay for Mosaic, “The Christian-Jewish Alliance and Its Enemies”The recent volume to which Solly contributed, Jewish Roots of American LibertyGeorge Washington's letters to the Hebrew congregations in Newport and SavannahGet Chris’s book, 13 Novels Conservatives Will Love (but Probably Haven’t Read), here.Time stamps:  1:41 – Origins of Thanksgiving and the history of Solly’s congregation 12:22 – The significance of religious liberty for early Jewish Americans 23:33 – Hebraic roots of the American founding 40:05 – Antisemitism on the American left and right 53:12 – Maintaining gratitude in the face of hardship Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist. Produced by Sean Doolan.

    1h 1m

  8. 11/13/2025

    A Spark of Literary Genius

    The critic and literary biographer Frances Wilson drops by to discuss her exceptional new book, Electric Spark: The Enigma of Dame Muriel. She and Chris talk about the fascinating life and early career of Muriel Spark, including her development as a novelist, tumultuous family life, and journey to religious belief. This is an especially fun conversation about one of the 20th century’s greatest—and slipperiest—novelists. Show notes: Frances’s book, Electric Spark: The Enigma of Dame MurielChris’s review of Electric Spark for the Washington ExaminerSome of Chris’s other essays about Spark: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and The Mandelbaum Gate; (his book, 13 Novels Conservatives Will Love (but Probably Haven’t Read), includes a chapter about another Spark novel).Martin Stannard’s authorized biography of SparkSpark’s memoir, Curriculum VitaeTime stamps: 0:34 – Muriel Spark's background and literary style (with a digression about Frances’s and Chris’s favorite Spark novels) 11:00 – Grappling with slippery biographical details 18:07 – Spark's early life and family 28:49 – Doppelgängers and doubling 36:15 – Peculiar day jobs and resulting entanglements 51:05 – Conversion to Catholicism Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist. Produced by Sean Doolan and R. Rubin.

    1h 3m
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About

In The Back of the Book, host Christopher J. Scalia interviews writers, scholars, and other expert guests about culture and the arts. Listen to The Back of the Book, along with more than 40 other original podcasts, at Ricochet.com. No paid subscription required.

Information

  • Creator
    Ricochet
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ricochet
  • Show Website
    The Back of the Book

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