Brit Lit Book Club

Vanessa
  • 5.0 (12)
  • BOOKS

Welcome to The Brit Lit Book Club, where we explore the stories behind the stories. Host Vanessa, founder of The Book Club Tour, takes you on literary adventures through Britain's greatest works—from Shakespeare and Austen to Dickens and the Brontës. What to Expect: Each episode dives deep into a classic British author or work, going far beyond the plot summaries you learned in school. We'll uncover how these authors challenged their societies, examine the historical forces that shaped their writing, and discover why these centuries-old books still speak to our modern world—from family expectations and social pressure to gender roles and class conflict. Explore the real Shakespeare beyond the myths. Understand why Romeo and Juliet is more about social control than romance. Discover how Jane Austen revolutionized the novel while navigating life as a single woman. Learn what Dickens revealed about Victorian poverty and why the Brontës' heroines were so scandalous. You'll Discover: Historical context that brings classic literature to lifeSurprising connections between Regency ballrooms and modern dating cultureWhy Victorian social issues mirror today's challengesThe real lives of authors who defied conventionHow to read between the lines of England's most beloved booksBook recommendations for deeper explorationTravel tips for experiencing literary England firsthand Who this podcast is for: Perfect for book club members, literature enthusiasts, Anglophiles, students, travelers planning literary pilgrimages, and anyone who suspects there's more to these classics than they were taught in school. Whether you're revisiting old favorites or discovering British literature for the first time, each episode offers fresh perspectives, thoughtful analysis, and plenty of tea.  New episodes weekly. Grab your tea and join the conversation!

  1. MAR 26

    Anne Brontë - The Forgotten Sister

    Anne Brontë – The Forgotten Sister  She's been called the forgotten Brontë — overshadowed by Charlotte's Jane Eyre and Emily's Wuthering Heights, dismissed as the quietest and least talented of the three sisters. But Anne Brontë may have been the most radical Victorian novelist of her generation. In this episode of The Brit Lit Book Club, we're finally giving Anne the spotlight she deserves — exploring how the youngest Brontë sister wrote unflinchingly about domestic abuse, alcoholism, and a woman's right to leave a dangerous marriage at a time when doing so was nearly illegal. From her gritty governess realism in Agnes Grey to the groundbreaking feminist fury of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Anne Brontë tackled subjects so controversial that even her own sister Charlotte suppressed her work after her death. If you've ever loved the Brontës, this episode will change the way you think about all three of them. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why Anne Brontë is considered "the forgotten Brontë" — and why that reputation is completely undeservedHow Anne's years working as a governess shaped the unflinching realism of her fictionWhat makes Agnes Grey a quietly radical feminist novel — and how it differs from Jane Eyre despite sharing a governess heroineThe shocking plot of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and why Victorian critics called it "utterly unfit" for young womenHow Anne's firsthand experience watching her brother Branwell's alcoholism shaped her groundbreaking portrayal of addiction — decades ahead of modern understandingWhy The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was a bestseller that then virtually disappeared from literary historyWhy Charlotte Brontë made the controversial decision to suppress her sister's most important novelAnne's theological independence and how her belief in universal salvation challenged established church doctrineHow The Tenant of Wildfell Hall speaks directly to modern conversations about domestic abuse, economic dependence, and women leaving dangerous relationshipsWhy Anne Brontë deserves to stand alongside — and perhaps above — her more famous sistersBooks Mentioned & Recommended: Anne Brontë's Novels: Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë (Penguin Classics edition)The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë (Penguin Classics edition)Biographies: Take Courage: Anne Brontë and the Art of Life by Samantha EllisIn Search of Anne Brontë by Nick HollandCritical & Scholarly Reading: The Brontës by Juliet BarkerThe Brontës and Religion by Marianne ThormählenAnne Brontë: The Other One by Elizabeth LanglandCompanion Reading: Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell (read alongside The Tenant of Wildfell Hall to see how Victorian women writers approached social transgreLove this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

    20 min

  2. MAR 18

    Daphne du Maurier: The Woman Behind Rebecca

    The Brit Lit Book Club - Daphne du Maurier: The Woman Behind Rebecca Discover the dark, complex world of Daphne du Maurier, one of the 20th century's most brilliant and misunderstood writers. Join host Vanessa Hunt as she explores the life and legacy of the author who gave us one of literature's most famous opening lines. What You'll Learn: The fascinating, complicated life of Daphne du Maurier and her secret relationshipsWhy Rebecca is one of the greatest Gothic novels ever writtenThe Female Gothic tradition from the Brontës to modern psychological thrillersHow Cornwall shaped du Maurier's imagination and dark storytellingThe real Menabilly estate that inspired the haunting ManderleyDu Maurier's other masterpieces: Jamaica Inn, The Birds, My Cousin Rachel, and Don't Look NowPerfect for fans of Gothic literature, psychological thrillers, British classics, literary history, and anyone who loves atmospheric storytelling. Whether you're a longtime Rebecca devotee or discovering du Maurier for the first time, this episode reveals the radical writer behind the romance. Ideal for: Book club members, Gothic fiction enthusiasts, fans of Gillian Flynn and Kate Morton, literary travelers, women's literature lovers, and anyone interested in Cornwall, classic British authors, psychological suspense, and the greatest female writers of the 20th century. 📚 BOOKS RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: Essential Du Maurier: Rebecca by Daphne du MaurierMy Cousin Rachel by Daphne du MaurierJamaica Inn by Daphne du MaurierThe Birds and Other Stories by Daphne du MaurierBiography: Daphne du Maurier: The Secret Life of the Renowned Storyteller by Margaret ForsterThe Gothic Tradition: Jane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëThe Woman in White by Wilkie CollinsModern Gothic Heirs: The House at Riverton by Kate MortonThe Distant Hours by Kate MortonGone Girl by Gillian FlynnCornwall: The Sea's in the Kitchen by Denys Val Baker (out of print, but may be at your library or used book store)Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

    25 min

  3. MAR 12

    The Hidden History of Book Clubs

    What if the book club wasn't just a cozy tradition, but one of the most powerful tools for change in women's history? In this episode of the Brit Lit Book Club, we trace the story of women's reading communities from the salons of ancient Greece and 18th-century France all the way to Oprah's Book Club and BookTok, and uncover just how much of the world women built from a circle of chairs and a shared book. We explore the founding of Sorosis in 1868, born from a woman being turned away from a Charles Dickens dinner. We dive into the Black women's literary clubs of the 19th century, including the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs and their unforgettable motto, Lifting As We Climb.  We look at how suffragists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton called the women's club "the school of politics for women." And we spend time in our beloved Britain — with the Brontës on the Yorkshire moors, Jane Austen in Bath, and Agatha Christie in Devon, tracing the radical literary tradition that runs through the very landscapes we explore on the Book Club Tour. This is the first episode in our Women's History Month series. More episodes coming all month long. In This Episode: The ancient roots of communal reading — from Greek symposiums to Roman litteratiThe women who ran the literary salons of 17th and 18th century FranceHow working-class reading societies in Britain crowdfunded libraries before crowdfunding existedThe founding of Sorosis (1868) and the General Federation of Women's Clubs — over a million members strongThe Black women's literary clubs that fought lynching, built schools, and changed AmericaHow the suffrage movement grew directly from the women's club movementThe Brontë sisters, Jane Austen, and Agatha Christie as literary revolutionariesOprah's Book Club, Goodreads, and BookTok — the tradition continuesHow the Book Club Tour carries this tradition forward todayMentioned in This Episode: Sorosis — founded by Jane Cunningham Croly, 1868The General Federation of Women's ClubsThe National Association of Colored Women's Clubs — founded 1896, Mary Church TerrellIda B. Wells & Anna Julia CooperBenjamin Franklin's Junto (1727)Pandita RamabaiThe Brontë sisters — Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Tenant of Wildfell HallJane Austen — Persuasion, the Pump Room in BathAgatha Christie — Devon & the Jane Austen & Agatha Christie TourOprah's Book Club — Toni Morrison's Song of SolomonReese Witherspoon's Book ClubBookTokUpcoming Book Club Tours: 🇬🇧 British Book Club Tour — July 2026 & June 2027🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish Book Club Tour — June 2027🇫🇷 French Book Club Tour — July 2027Visit thebookclubtour.com to learn more or book your spot. Custom trips for your own book club are also available! Connect With Us: Instagram: @thebookclubtourWebsite: thebookclubtour.comIf you loved this episode, please leave a review — it helps more British literature lovers find the show! Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

    18 min

  4. MAR 4

    Mary Shelley & the Birth of Frankenstein

    What does it take to write one of the most enduring novels in human history at eighteen years old, in the middle of a volcanic winter, surrounded by grief? In this episode of the Brit Lit Book Club, we dive deep into Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, tracing the extraordinary life behind one of Gothic literature's greatest masterworks. We explore Mary's radical inheritance: daughter of pioneering feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and philosopher William Godwin — and the personal tragedies that shaped her obsession with creation, loss, and the desperate wish to undo death. We journey to the shores of Lake Geneva, where the stormy summer of 1816 gave birth to the famous ghost story competition and, ultimately, to the spark of Frankenstein itself. Along the way, we discuss why the creature is not the villain of this novel, how Mary Shelley invented science fiction while drawing on the very real and very fashionable science of Galvanism, and why the 1931 Boris Karloff film, brilliant as it is, robbed the creature of his most essential quality: his eloquence. We also look at Frankenstein's extraordinary legacy, from the National Theatre's 2011 Benedict Cumberbatch production to its DNA running through every conversation we're currently having about artificial intelligence and the ethics of creation. That question has never felt more urgent. In this episode: Mary Wollstonecraft's radical legacy and its influence on FrankensteinThe Year Without a Summer and the Villa Diodati ghost story competitionWhy the 1818 first edition differs — and why it mattersThe feminist and humanist reading of the creatureGothic literature's origins and how Mary Shelley transformed the traditionLiterary pilgrimage sites related to Mary ShelleyPerfect for: fans of Gothic literature, British literary history, feminist literary criticism, science fiction origins, the Romantic era, and literary travel. 📚 Reading List Start Here: Frankenstein: The 1818 Text (Penguin Classics) — Mary Shelley The original, unrevised edition — rawer, more radical, and more interesting than the commonly reprinted 1831 version. This Penguin edition includes an introduction by Charlotte Gordon and notes that place Mary in a feminist literary legacy. Biography: Mary Shelley — Miranda Seymour The gold-standard life of Shelley. Thoroughly researched and beautifully written — the kind of biography that reads like a novel and leaves you feeling you've lost a friend when it's over. Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley — Charlotte Gordon A National Book Critics Circle Award winner that tells the story of both mother and daughter in alternating chapters — two women who never knew each other but shared a literary and feminist legacy. This one will absolutely wreck you in the best way possible. The Gothic Tradition: The Mysteries of Udolpho (Penguin Classics) — Ann Radcliffe The Gothic novel that defined the genre before Mary Shelley came along and revolutionized it. Atmospheric, suspenseful, and surprisingly modern Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us! 🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

    21 min

  5. FEB 27

    How to Start a Classics Book Club

    Starting a Classics Book Club: Tips, Traditions & Literary Travel with Keri & Liz  Have you ever dreamed of starting a classics book club but didn't know where to begin? In this episode, I sit down with two friends who started my personal book club, Keri & Liz, to talk all things classic literature and the magic that happens when readers gather around great books. Keri and Liz share how their classics book club got started, how they recruit and retain members, and what a typical meeting actually looks like — from how they choose their reads to what happens when someone hasn't finished the book (we've all been there!). We dig into why classic literature still matters in today's world, which books sparked the most passionate debates in her group, and how timeless stories connect to our modern lives in ways we never expected. We also tackle the harder conversations — navigating uncomfortable themes in classic texts, managing group dynamics, and keeping a book club thriving year after year. And then we get to the really exciting part: Keri and Liz have actually traveled to England with The Book Club Tour, and they share how experiencing the real landscapes, homes, and villages behind beloved books completely transformed the way they read. If you've ever wondered whether a literary travel experience is worth it, this episode will answer that question. Whether you're a seasoned book club host or dreaming of starting one from scratch, this episode is packed with practical advice, genuine inspiration, and a healthy dose of literary wanderlust. Interested in combining your love of classic literature with travel? Visit thebookclubtour.com to learn more about our immersive literary tours to England. In this episode we cover: How to start and grow a classics book clubWhy classic literature is more relevant than everBook club meeting formats, discussion tips & member dynamicsNavigating difficult themes in classic textsHow literary travel deepens your connection to the books you loveThe Book Club Tour experience in EnglandLove this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us! 🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

    53 min

  6. FEB 23

    My Review of the New Wuthering Heights Movie

    Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights (2026) has arrived and the internet has opinions. So do I. In this episode of The Brit Lit Book Club, we're stepping away from the page and into the cinema to review the most talked-about British literary adaptation of the year. Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, Fennell's film was never meant to be a faithful retelling, by her own admission, it's her response to Emily Brontë's novel, built from memory and feeling rather than faithful reconstruction.  But does artistic freedom have limits? And what happens when the details an adaptation chooses to leave out aren't details at all, but the story's entire moral foundation? We cover it all: what the film gets genuinely right, what it loses by erasing and the novel's second generation, why Isabella's arc matters more than audiences may realize, and why the whitewashing of Heathcliff (however common in other adaptations) is not something we can brush past in 2026. We also sit with the bigger question the novel has always been asking: why do we romanticize love that hurts? And what does it mean that Wuthering Heights was exploring toxic love long before we had language for it? Whether you've seen the film, read the book, or just found your way to Emily Brontë through the movie buzz, this one's for you. Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us! 🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

    21 min

  7. FEB 11

    Wuthering Heights: Everything You Need to Know Before the New Movie Comes Out This Week

    Wuthering Heights: Everything You Need to Know Before the New Movie Comes Out This Week The new Wuthering Heights movie starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi is coming soon, and whether you've read Emily Brontë's classic or not, this episode will prepare you for what you're about to see on screen. In this episode: Complete plot summary for first-time readers (or if you're not going to read the book)Emily Brontë's fascinating, tragic life—from her isolation at Haworth Parsonage to her death at 30Major themes: class, revenge, toxic relationships, nature vs. civilizationWhy Wuthering Heights is NOT a romance (and why Heathcliff is not a romantic hero)The shocking Victorian reception to this "coarse" and "brutal" novelWhy the book is so difficult to adapt to filmPast adaptations worth knowing What we know about Emerald Fennell's version and what to expectHow to prepare for the movie and what to take awayWhy this 1847 novel still matters todayVisiting the Yorkshire moors and Haworth Parsonage where Emily wroteThis is Gothic psychological drama, not a love story—come prepared for intensity, obsession, and the wild beauty of the moors. Book Recommendations: Wuthering Heights by Emily BrontëEmily Brontë: A Life by Claire HarmanThe Madwoman in the Attic by Sandra Gilbert and Susan GubarThe Complete Poems by Emily BrontëThe Brontës: Wild Genius on the Moors by Juliet BarkerWant to walk the moors where Emily wrote? Visit thebookclubtour.com for literary tours of Haworth, the Yorkshire moors, and other British literary locations. Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us! 🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

    33 min

  8. FEB 5

    Interview with Essie Fox, Author of "Catherine: A Retelling of Wuthering Heights"

    Join author Essie Fox for a haunting conversation about Catherine: A Retelling of Wuthering Heights, a Gothic reimagining of Emily Brontë's masterpiece told from Catherine Earnshaw's ghostly perspective. In this special episode of The Brit Lit Book Club, Sunday Times bestselling author Essie Fox discusses her bold new retelling of Wuthering Heights, one of British literature's most beloved Gothic novels. Catherine gives voice to the original's most enigmatic character, allowing readers to experience the Yorkshire moors, Heathcliff's obsessive love, and the dark halls of the Heights through Cathy's eyes—from beyond the grave. We explore why Essie chose Catherine's supernatural perspective, how she balanced Victorian authenticity with modern accessibility, and her deep knowledge of the Brontë sisters and Haworth Parsonage. Essie shares insights into navigating the challenges of retelling a classic, her approach to the Gothic tradition that runs through all her historical novels, and what drew her to give Catherine the voice Nelly Dean's narration couldn't provide. Whether you're a Brontë devotee, a Gothic fiction enthusiast, or curious about literary retellings, this conversation offers fresh perspectives on Wuthering Heights and the timeless appeal of Emily Brontë's dark romance. Catherine: A Retelling of Wuthering Heights publishes February 12th in the UK and April 14th in the US. You can find it on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble in the US.  Perfect for fans of: Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë, Victorian Gothic fiction, literary retellings, British classics, Yorkshire literary tourism Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us! 🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

    1h 26m
See All (22)

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Brit Lit Book Club, where we explore the stories behind the stories. Host Vanessa, founder of The Book Club Tour, takes you on literary adventures through Britain's greatest works—from Shakespeare and Austen to Dickens and the Brontës. What to Expect: Each episode dives deep into a classic British author or work, going far beyond the plot summaries you learned in school. We'll uncover how these authors challenged their societies, examine the historical forces that shaped their writing, and discover why these centuries-old books still speak to our modern world—from family expectations and social pressure to gender roles and class conflict. Explore the real Shakespeare beyond the myths. Understand why Romeo and Juliet is more about social control than romance. Discover how Jane Austen revolutionized the novel while navigating life as a single woman. Learn what Dickens revealed about Victorian poverty and why the Brontës' heroines were so scandalous. You'll Discover: Historical context that brings classic literature to lifeSurprising connections between Regency ballrooms and modern dating cultureWhy Victorian social issues mirror today's challengesThe real lives of authors who defied conventionHow to read between the lines of England's most beloved booksBook recommendations for deeper explorationTravel tips for experiencing literary England firsthand Who this podcast is for: Perfect for book club members, literature enthusiasts, Anglophiles, students, travelers planning literary pilgrimages, and anyone who suspects there's more to these classics than they were taught in school. Whether you're revisiting old favorites or discovering British literature for the first time, each episode offers fresh perspectives, thoughtful analysis, and plenty of tea.  New episodes weekly. Grab your tea and join the conversation!

Information

  • Creator
    Vanessa
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Brit Lit Book Club
  • Show Website
    Brit Lit Book Club

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