274 episodes

"Welcome back to Get Lit, the literary podcast where we discuss famous works of literature and the authors who wrote them..."

Get Lit Podcast Steph Svarz

    • History
    • 4.8 • 40 Ratings

"Welcome back to Get Lit, the literary podcast where we discuss famous works of literature and the authors who wrote them..."

    Get Lit Episode 259: Marianne Moore

    Get Lit Episode 259: Marianne Moore

    Our celebration of Women's History Month continues with Modernist poet Marianne Moore! Her life was varied and storied as she made her way from the the Midwest to the East Coast and through poetry, prose, and criticism. She surrounded herself with colorful characters as she explored the new landscape of American poetry, mentoring and inspiring the likes of William Carlos Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, and H.D! Also featuring tricorn hats, bathtub dinners, and children's books come to life! 

    • 49 min
    Get Lit Episode 258: Eva Ibbotson

    Get Lit Episode 258: Eva Ibbotson

    Eva Ibbotson kicks off our celebration of Women's History Month! Ibbotson escaped the Nazi occupation, worked as a translator, and published her first novel at the age of 50! She shakes the conventions of the 'traditional' author path and forged her own way forward in the world of literature. She was known for her cheeky, witty humor, and delightfully whimsical characters, but has a legacy that extends far beyond this! Join us overseas this week and learn more about her life and work! 

    • 35 min
    Get Lit Episode 257: Chester Himes

    Get Lit Episode 257: Chester Himes

    Meet the extraordinary author behind the Black detective novel genre, Chester Himes! Himes lived a very colorful life that informed his work and his perspectives. He worked actively to combat racism and lived courageously, never afraid to start over or change course. His legacy transcends genres, continents, and time. 

    • 47 min
    Get Lit Episode 256: Dr. Anna J. Cooper

    Get Lit Episode 256: Dr. Anna J. Cooper

    This week, join us to reflect on the legacy of Dr. Anna J. Cooper!  Cooper was an extraordinary activist, educator, author, speaker, and philosopher who made a significant difference in the lives of every community she was part of. Her legacy extends beyond her written work, but lives on in all of those she taught and those who got to know her work! She advocated for the rights of Black Americans, her students, women, and was an early advocate of the intersectional identities. Did we mention she got her PhD at 67? Listen and learn from the best! 

    • 40 min
    Get Lit Episode 255: A Literary History of Valentine's Day

    Get Lit Episode 255: A Literary History of Valentine's Day

    It's a Valentine's Day Special! We're exploring the literary ties to Valentine's Day dating all the way back to the 1300's! We cover Geoffrey Chaucer's contributions to the holiday, the origins of the Valentine's Day card, some strange Victorian love poetry, vinegar valentines, the language of flowers, and more! Regardless of the nature of your celebrations, we hope you enjoy a new look through a literary lens at this holiday! 

    • 51 min
    Get Lit Episode 254: Pauline Hopkins

    Get Lit Episode 254: Pauline Hopkins

    This week, Jon reports on Pauline Hopkins, a essential Black author whose legacy has gone largely neglected. She was a prolific activist, advocate, and author. She wrote in multiple genres including novels, short stories, plays and musicals, articles, and more to help bring an empathetic light to the lives of the communities around her. Join us for a look at her life and works, along with a rather unconventional celebration of President's Day! 

    • 50 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
40 Ratings

40 Ratings

sbstarr ,

Noël Coward: Rich biography

I returned from NYC to my home in Chicago with a rich curiosity about the history of Broadway. I toured “Ten Chimneys,” the Wisconsin country home of Alfred Lunt and Joan Fontanne and took note of several adoring portraits of Noël Coward with Lunt and Fontanne. It was apparent that he was a frequent guest and perhaps a lover… unsubstantiated but Coward wrote “Design For Living” for the trio that likely had some bearing in reality. Jon’s City Lit bio of Coward was just what I hoped to find. It helped uncover the queer sensibility of the storied writer. Thank you!

dbesqui ,

So lovely!

It’s such a gentle and charismatic introduction to an era of literature in which I never feel welcomed. So grateful for such a passionate pair of artists.

weltyfan ,

Eudora Welty

Great bio on Eudora Welty, but there were a couple of facts that got mixed up in the podcast: 1) Her house is a museum but she donated it to the Mississippi Department of Archives & History (not the State Conservation Society) along with all of her correspondence, manuscripts, and photographs which can also be viewed on MDAH’s website in the Digital Archives. It is one of the world’s largest most intact literary collections in an archive; 2) in The Optimist’s Daughter, Laurel actually visits both New Orleans and Mississippi from Chicago. Just wanted to point that out for others who are interested!

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