Literature and History
With millions of downloads, hundreds of hours of soundtracked content, and an overall emphasis on the cultural history behind famous works of literature, Literature and History is one of the most popular independent podcasts on its subject. Starting with Sumerian cuneiform in 3,100 BCE, Literature and History moves forward in chronological order through Assyriology, Egyptology, the Old Testament, Ancient Greece and Rome, and the birth of Christianity. The show's current season is on Late Antiquity (or 200-700 CE) and the dawn of the Middle Ages. A typical episode (they average about two hours) features a general introduction to a work of literature, then a full summary of that work that expects no prior knowledge, and finally, an analysis of the cultural, biographical, and historical forces that gave rise to the work in question. Original symphonic and ambient background music is woven throughout each show, and all episodes offer free full, illustrated, footnoted transcriptions as well as quizzes for purposes of review. The show has no advertisements, and its host takes pride in a professional approach that avoids chitchat and ephemera and gets straight to the educational content. You can listen to the episodes in any order, although most listeners begin at the beginning and proceed from there, as the podcast itself is chronologically organized. Doug Metzger finished his Ph.D. in literature in 2011. His chief scholarly interest, following his dissertation work, continues to be 19th-century realism and postbellum American philosophy.
Learning is not only informative, but great fun with Doug!
4 days ago
I am going through this podcast for the second time. It is absolutely the most informative, well rerserarched, and interesting podcast for those who love history and/or literature. I just hope that Doug adds several more new podcasts so that by the time I reach Gregory of Tours I will still have several more two go.
A masterclass
Nov 30
Been listening to this for years now and it always brightens my day when a new episode is released. A truly high quality well researched masterclass.
One of the very best
Nov 25
It is flabbergasting to me this not the most well known of all history podcasts. For lovers of literature it is an absolute must-listen. Complete audio control, fun songs, fun jokes, and astounding deep dives that will change your perception of all history.
The best Podcast
Oct 31
I always liked reading about history but the stuff I always read was about epic wars and heroes. This podcast’s literary approach and historical context provides a unique and refreshing perspective on history. This is seriously the best podcast ever! I have listened to all episodes at least 3 times.
About
Information
- CreatorDoug Metzger
- Years Active2016 - 2024
- Episodes105
- RatingExplicit
- Show Website