Shows
Unburied BooksTeaser: Silas Marner by George EliotIn this Patreon clip, Kassia and Dylan discuss the classic novel Silas Marner, the book's fast paced structure, and their love of Eliot's language.
Have Christmas every day by becoming a subscriber.
2026-02-1209 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: "Christmas Every Day" by William Dean HowellsThe Patreon gets festive this December by discussing a classic Christmas short story from a Kassia favorite, William Dean Howells. We wrap up the episode with a few Marianne Moore holiday poems as she was the translator of this month's NYRB Rock Crystal.
Have Christmas every day by becoming a subscriber.
2025-12-3006 min
Unburied BooksRock Crystal by Adalbert StifterDylan and Kassia gather around the hearth to discuss Adalbert Stifter's Rock Crystal, a Christmassy novella translated from German by Elizabeth Mayer and Marianne Moore. In this story, two children get lost in a snowstorm on Holy Eve. We shovel away the layers of winter snow to uncover the deeper meaning of their predicament.
Support our show here.
2025-12-191h 02
Unburied BooksTeaser: The Toilers of the Sea by Victor HugoIn this clip, Kassia and Dylan how Victor Hugo's Guernsey compares to the Guernsey of Ebenezer le Page and the use of essayistic digressions in novels.
Become a subscriber for further yapping on Guernsey via Victor Hugo's The Toilers of the Sea.
2025-12-1308 min
Unburied BooksSchattenfroh with Michael Lentz and Max LawtonIn this special episode, we discuss Schattenfroh with author Michael Lentz and translator Max Lawton. This novel, originally written in German, traverses centuries of history to confront a personal loss. We talk about Lentz's Catholic upbringing, Lawton's detective work, and how their collaboration reflects the narrator's imprisonment.
Preorder Schattenfroh: Schattenfroh – Deep Vellum
Donate to Deep Vellum: Donate Now | Deep Vellum
Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2025-05-2657 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: Chaucer's Scribes with Lawrence WarnerIn this episode, Professor Lawrence Warner joins us to talk about Adam Pinkhurst, a 14th century scribe who may or may not have been cursed in a humorous poem by Geoffrey Chaucer. We explore the evidence for Pinkhurst’s identification as Chaucer’s “owne scriveyn” behind two early manuscripts of The Canterbury Tales, enjoy some impromptu Middle English recitation, and question the relationship between paleography and literary studies.
To hear the full conversation, become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2025-05-0707 min
Unburied BooksAnglo-Saxon Attitudes by Angus WilsonAnd we're back with a new season and episode covering Angus Wilson's Anglo-Saxon Attitudes, first published in 1956. The book tells the story of an archealogical hoax and its slow revelation due to the reluctant intervention of Gerald Middleton, a depressive medieval historian. We talk about the novelist versus the historian's investigation of truth, Wilson's treatment of gay relationships, and parallels with the Bayeux Tapestry.
This episode is the first in a pair about medievalism and its ambiguities. Join our Patreon to follow along: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2025-04-221h 16
Unburied BooksShorts: Unbound with Jonathan Meades and John MitchinsonOn this episode of Shorts, we're talking to author Jonathan Meades and publisher John Mitchinson about the unique publishing process at Unbound. We discuss how they each became readers, Unbound's roots in the subscription model of the 17th century, Meades' magnum opus, and more.
Order Empty Wigs: https://unbound.com/books/empty-wigs
Join the Unbound newsletter: https://unbound.com/newsletter
2025-02-1129 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: A Tomb for Boris Davidovich by Danilo KišIn this episode, we talk about A Tomb for Boris Davidovich by Danilo Kiš and Philip Roth's Writers from the Other Europe series from the 1970s and 80s.
Listen to the full episode on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-12-2707 min
Unburied BooksEnding Up with Craig BrownAuthor and critic Craig Brown joins us to discuss Kingsley Amis' novel Ending Up. The story follows a group of poverty-stricken elders as they suffer the miseries of one another's company (and their relatives) over the holidays. We talk about the limits of comic writing, Amis' penchant for irritation, and the context of 1970s England. It's our 50th NYRB Classic! Let's cut the telephone wires in celebration!
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-12-2457 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: Dream of the Red Chamber Part 2 with Eileen Cheng-yin Chow and Wai-yee LiEileen Cheng-yin Chow and Wai-yee Li, both scholars and devoted readers of Cao Xueqin's Dream of the Red Chamber, join us to discuss the book's final two volumes as well as their varied encounters with the text. In this clip, we talk about the controversy surrounding the novel's last 40 chapters, the author's alter ego, and the depiction of Chinese fatherhood.
Hear the full episode on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-12-1412 min
Unburied BooksAngel with Mandylion PressMabel Taylor and Madeline Porsella of Mandylion Press join us to discuss Elizabeth Taylor's Angel, a novel first published in 1957. Angel is the story of a self-obsessed writer whose imaginary world becomes frighteningly real. We talk about her lying tendencies, fraught relationships, and intersections with history's whirligig.
Check out Mandylion's books and podcast, 1-800-1800.
Sign up to our patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-12-061h 20
Unburied BooksTeaser: Pablo Casals, "Chopin," and the Esotericism of Classical MusicIt's classical music week at Unburied Books! In this bonus episode, we talk about Joys and Sorrows by Pablo Casals, a sort-of autobiography by the great unburier of Bach's cello suites, as well as Gottfried Benn's poem "Chopin," translated from German by NYRB favorite Michael Hofmann.
Read the poem here: https://www.ronnowpoetry.com/contents/benn/Chopin.html
Listen to the full episode on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-11-2902 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: Stranger than Fiction with Edwin FrankNYRB Classics editorial director Edwin Frank returns to talk about his new book on the 20th-century novel. We discuss how he defined the category, his discoveries during research, and how being an editor has shaped his understanding.
To hear the full episode, check out our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-11-2102 min
Unburied BooksThe Lily in the Valley with Peter BushPeter Bush joins us to discuss his translation of Honoré de Balzac's The Lily in the Valley. We talk about the novel's unique place in the Human Comedy, its surprisingly modern ending, and the challenges of recreating Balzac's language in English.
Support our show here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-11-0749 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: Frankenstein by Mary ShelleyIn this clip from the Patreon, we debate the merits of the 1818 and 1831 versions of the novel that birthed innumerable Halloween ensembles.
Listen to the full episode here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-10-3005 min
Unburied BooksClandestine in Chile with Ignacio Sánchez PradoScholar and author Ignacio Sánchez Prado joins us to discuss Clandestine in Chile written by Gabriel García Márquez and translated from Spanish by Asa Zatz. We talk about Márquez's influence on Latin American cinema, hallmarks of the crónica, and the meaning of exile to an artist.
Become a patron to hear our discussion of Márquez's short story collection Strange Pilgrims: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-10-251h 06
Unburied BooksTeaser: Dante in Motion and the Ethereal Art of Silent FilmIn this clip, Dylan and Kassia discuss the 1911 Italian silent film adaptation of Dante's Inferno, a text covered on the main show.
To hear the full episode, sign up to become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-10-2003 min
Unburied BooksShorts: Two Dollar Radio with Eric ObenaufWelcome to Shorts, a miniseries where we interview the publishers of new and daring work. This week we're talking to Eric Obenauf, who, along with his partner, cofounded the small, Ohio-based press Two Dollar Radio. We hear how their youthful idealism has evolved over the years, find out what kind of writing piques their interest, and discover which of their books Barry Manilow might enjoy.
2024-10-0426 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: Dream of the Red Chamber Part 1In this extended teaser, we share the first three of seven "chapters" discussing one of the foremost Chinese classical novels, Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin. With over 400 characters, the novel details everyday life in the Qing dynasty as well as some of the most extraordinary scenes put to paper.
It's our longest episode ever. Hear the complete version on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-09-2938 min
Unburied BooksThe Slaves of Solitude with NoraWe discuss Patrick Hamilton's 1947 novel The Slaves of Solitude with Spinster September creator Nora. The story concerns Miss Roach, an unmarried woman scraping through WWII on the outskirts of London. The episode covers the meaning of spinsterdom, Hamilton's black humor, and how crisis skews perspective.
Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-09-201h 20
Unburied BooksTeaser: Iliad or Odyssey?We test Dylan's theory that all stories can be classified as either an Iliad or Odyssey by going through the list of NYRB Classics that we've covered.
Listen to the full episode on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-09-1215 min
Unburied BooksWith Renata AdlerAuthor, journalist, and critic Renata Adler joins us in person for a discussion of her novels Speedboat and Pitch Dark, both reprinted as NYRB Classics. We also talk about her career in journalism, reactions to criticism, and thoughts on persona.
2024-09-061h 02
Unburied BooksTeaser: Melville, Wharton, and the Perils of PilgrimageIn this episode, we break from our usual format and discuss a recent "literary" road trip through New England. We share our thoughts on the Moby-Dick-centrism of Herman Melville's Arrowhead and on Edith Wharton's humble writer's retreat The Mount, which could reasonably accomodate a pod of whales, not to mention Henry James, Howard Sturgis, and friends. In Lennox, we run into the owner of The Bookstore, who was recently the subject of a bittersweet documentary entitled Hello, Bookstore.
To hear all this and more, check out our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-08-3004 min
Unburied BooksWaiting for the Fear with Merve EmreCritic Merve Emre joins us to discuss Oğuz Atay's short story collection Waiting for the Fear, newly translated from Turkish by Ralph Hubbell. These eight stories, inflected with humor and dread, deal with characters on the margins of society. We talk about the theme of alienation, Atay's relationship to Russian literature, and why so many of the stories take the form of letters.
Want to hear more Unburied Books? Sign up for our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-08-2248 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: The Novel with Steven MooreCritic Steven Moore joins us to discuss his two-volume alternative history of the novel. He refutes popular claims that the novel is a European invention and tells us why constant innovation is the form's true tradition.
Hear the full episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
Link to pre-order The Adventures of Lady Egeria: https://sublunaryeditions.com/products/the-adventures-of-lady-egeria
2024-08-1607 min
Unburied BooksSão Bernardo with Padma ViswanathanWriter and Portuguese translator Padma Viswanathan joins us to discuss her translation of São Bernardo by Graciliano Ramos. The book follows the story of Paulo Honório, an enterprising field hand who goes on to own the land where he once toiled. We talk about finding the narrator's voice, the many layers of irony, and Graciliano's political perspective.
Read more about our guest's work here: https://padmaviswanathan.com/
Read one of the author's municipal reports: https://lithub.com/how-to-break-in-to-publishing-if-youre-a-smalltown-brazilian-mayor-in-the-1930s/
And, if you're up to it, peruse our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user...
2024-08-0859 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: 19 Ways of Looking at Wang Wei with Canaan MorseChinese translator Canaan Morse returns to explain how Eliot Weinberger's critical (and often cutting) analysis can help us see classical writing in new ways.
Listen to the full episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-07-3104 min
Unburied BooksCastle Gripsholm by Kurt TucholskyDylan and Kassia return to discuss Castle Gripsholm written by Kurt Tucholsky and translated from German by Michael Hofmann. The novel tells the story of "the Princess" and her lover on holiday in Sweden. It's a simple summertime fairy tale ... or is it? We talk about metafiction, love and friendship, and the book's sly critique of 1930s Germany.
The Last Sane Woman review: https://therumpus.net/2024/07/16/the-archive-as-potters-field-hannah-regels-the-last-sane-woman/
NYRB Classics film adaptations list: https://letterboxd.com/greenchile42/list/nyrb-classics/
And finally, our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-07-2652 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: Strange Pilgrims by Gabriel García MárquezDylan and Kassia read Strange Pilgrims, a short story collection suggested by a listener.
To hear the full episode, join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-07-1906 min
Unburied BooksBelchamber by Howard SturgisDylan and Kassia discuss Howard Sturgis' 1904 novel Belchamber. It follows the coming of age of Sainty, a not-so-average English boy who prefers needlepoint to riding and Tennyson to girls. We talk about the novel's interweaving of comedy and tragedy, the nature of being a sissy, and, of course, Henry James' famous critiques.
If you want to hear extra episodes, explore our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-07-111h 19
Unburied BooksSkeletons in the Closet with Howard A. RodmanScreenwriter Howard A. Rodman joins us to discuss Jean-Patrick Manchette's Skeletons in the Closet, translated from French by Alyson Waters. This is a private eye novel set in Paris after the failed revolution of May 68. We talk about Manchette's playfulness with genre, the brutal yet slapstick violence in his books, and his collapse of high-versus-low distinctions.
Check out our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-06-2754 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: The Silmarillion with Alex CuellarTolkien enthusiast Alex Cuellar joins us to discuss The Silmarillion. One of us has to test the limits of our edurance for the fantasy genre.
To hear the full episode, sign up to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-06-2006 min
Unburied BooksThe Land Breakers with Chris ViaLeaf by Leaf host Chris Via joins us to discuss John Ehle's 1964 novel The Land Breakers. It is a story of love, sacrifice, and survival in an unspoilt Appalachian landscape. We talk about the book's nuanced character development, the violent birthing pangs of early America, plus the similiarities and differences between Ehle's bear hunt and Melville's whale watch.
Explore our bonus material here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-06-111h 14
Unburied BooksTeaser: They with Lucy ScholesIn this clip, we hear about how McNally Editions editor Lucy Scholes came to rediscover English author Kay Dick and her dystopian novel They.
To listen to the full conversation, check out our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-06-0403 min
Unburied BooksTalk with Linda RosenkrantzAuthor Linda Rosenkrantz joins us to discuss her 1968 "reality novel" Talk. In the summer of 65, Rosenkrantz took a tape recorder to the beach and documented her friends' conversations. She later shaped the transcripts from that trip into a sharp, funny, and unusually revealing book. We speak with her about her contrasting experiences with publishing then and now, her artistic inspirations, other tape recording projects, and more.
Explore our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-05-2928 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: The Fringes of Story with Amit ChaudhuriNovelist Amit Chaudhuri joins us for a wide-ranging conversation as his first three books (A Strange and Sublime Address, Afternoon Raag, and Freedom Song) are republished as NYRB Classics. We talk about his uneasy relationship with the realist novel, the literary market's distortions of value, and the role place plays in his creative project.
To hear the full episode, join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-05-2210 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: T. H. White with Kate MacdonaldIn this brief clip, publisher Kate Macdonald shares the story of writer T. H. White's most beloved dog, Brownie. In the full episode, we talk about Sylvia Townsend Warner's approach to biography, White's Arthurian cycle, and the unglamorous side of being an author.
To listen, join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-05-1704 min
Unburied BooksThe Goshawk with Helen MacdonaldWe are joined by author Helen Macdonald to discuss T. H. White's The Goshawk, originally published in 1951. In this conversation, we talk about the devotion required to train a hawk, what one learns during the process, and how White's book haunted our guest.
For more on White's biography, join us on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-05-1452 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: The Leopard with Patrick PreziosiWriter Patrick Preziosi rejoins the show to talk about an Italian favorite: Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's The Leopard. In this clip, we talk about the Sicilian prince's strange path to publication and how his other short works illuminate this masterpiece. Listen to the full episode to hear our thoughts on Visconti's film adaptation, Lampedusa's prose, and what it's like to read the novel in Sicily.
Subscribe to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-05-0705 min
Unburied BooksModeran with Bijan StephenWriter Bijan Stephen joins us to discuss David R. Bunch's short story collection Moderan. In Moderan, people replace their "soft parts" with metal and devote their lives to making war. We talk about Bunch's satire of the international order, his wildly innovative use of language, and his commitment to depicting a utopian hellscape.
Read Bijan's article on Moderan here: https://dirt.fyi/article/2022/06/the-future-is-moderan
Check out Chris Lee's fantastic travelogue: https://chrisleefrancis.com/books/eastwards-and-far/
And, as always, we would love to have you over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-04-3047 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: "Tortured Poets" with Alina StefanescuPoet and writer Alina Stefanescu joins us to discuss her own pantheon of "tortured poets" in the wake of a pop star's adoption of the phrase.
Check out Alina's writing here: https://www.alinastefanescuwriter.com/
To hear the full episode, become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-04-2505 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: I'm Not Complaining with Nancy PearlAfter mentioning the book in our Mary Olivier episode, writer and librarian Nancy Pearl returns to discuss Ruth Adam's I'm Not Complaining, one of her favorite Virago Modern Classics. In this clip, Nancy talks about the novel's unique angle on the Great Depression.
To hear the complete conversation, become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-04-2304 min
Unburied BooksMoravagine with Ryan AlexanderWriter and co-host of the Vollmannia podcast Ryan Alexander joins us to discuss Moravagine, first published in 1926. The novel was written by Blaise Cendrars (given name: Frédéric-Louis Sauser) and translated from French by Alan Brown. The plot involves a monstrous criminal who, once released from a mental hospital, goes on a worldwide killing spree before returning to Europe to fight in World War I. We talk about the book's unique representation of violence, its social commentary on misogyny and antisemitism, and the false promises of progress.
Check out Ryan's excellent show here: https://vollmannia.buzzsprout.com...
2024-04-161h 21
Unburied BooksTeaser: Celia Dale with Andrew MaleEnjoy this clip from our bonus episode covering Celia Dale's sinister novel A Spring of Love with culture critic Andrew Male. The book is being reprinted by Daunt Books in September and is available for pre-order now.
To hear the full conversation, subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-04-0902 min
Unburied BooksHow to Start a Literary Magazine with Anthony GarrettIn this bonus episode, we speak with writer and editor Anthony Garrett about Atmospheric Quarterly, the new literary magazine he co-founded. Read it here: https://www.atmosphericquarterly.com/
2024-03-2648 min
Unburied BooksSeason of Migration to the North with Laila LalamiAuthor Laila Lalami joins us to discuss Tayeb Salih's novel Season of Migration to the North translated from Arabic by Denys Johnson-Davies. We talk about the book's postcolonial themes, its treatment of women's roles, and transformation of the Western canon.
Read more about our guest's work here: https://lailalalami.com/
Want to support the show? Explore our Patreon tiers here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-03-1945 min
Unburied BooksBlue Lard with Max LawtonMax Lawton joins us to discuss his new translation of Vladimir Sorokin's Blue Lard, a controversial Russian novel originally published in 1999. We talk about where this book fits into Sorokin's varied career, its irreverent treatment of political and literary icons, and the spirit of freedom that permeates every page.
Want to boost your L-harmony? Give our Patreon a look-see: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-03-051h 04
Unburied BooksTeaser: Eunoia by Christian BökIn this bonus teaser, we discuss a work of experimental poetry chosen by a patron.
Explore the hidden character of the vowels here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-02-2703 min
Unburied BooksThe Radiance of the King with Frank WynneWriter and translator Frank Wynne joins us to discuss The Radiance of the King written by Camara Laye and translated from French by James Kirkup. We talk about the book's hilarious absurdity, reversal of Western tropes, and mysterious ending.
Read more about our guest's work here: https://www.terribleman.com/
Interested in extra bookish content? Check out our three Patreon tiers here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-02-201h 33
Unburied BooksTeaser: Persuasion by Jane AustenThis Valentine's Day, we decided to revisit a romantic classic that one of us hates and the other loves. Will the cynic be persuaded to change their heart?
To swoon over the full episode, consider becoming a patron: patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-02-1402 min
Unburied BooksThe Skin of Dreams with Chris ClarkeChris Clarke joins us to discuss his new translation of Raymond Queneau's The Skin of Dreams. This delightful novel follows the wild imaginings of a daydreamer as he ventures from his dull reality in the outskirts of Paris to the glamorous heart of Hollywood. We talk about the challenge of rendering the original's linguistic playfulness in English and how Queneau's love of cinema helped inspire the book's form.
2024-02-0655 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: Cover Design with Katy HomansDesigner Katy Homans reveals the secrets behind those iconic NYRB Classics covers, and we find out what color Edwin Frank hates the most.
To hear to the full episode, consider becoming a patron: patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-02-0102 min
Unburied BooksTun-huang by Yasushi InoueIn this episode, Kassia and Dylan discuss the Japanese novel Tun-huang written by Yasushi Inoue and translated by Jean Oda Moy. This work of historical fiction imagines how a trove of early Buddhist sutras came to be hidden in caves along the Silk Road for centuries. We talk about the book’s criticism of education, bureaucracy, and materialism, as well as the significance of freedom, preservation, and translation.
Interested in supporting the show? Check out our Patreon page here: patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-01-2358 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: Moby-Dick with Will MenakerChapo Trap House co-host Will Menaker joins us to talk about Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. Recorded amid a marathon reading of Melville's masterwork, we discuss the book's prophetic vision of America and the popular culture that it spawned. Will reads from his favorite section of the novel and gives a pitch for why it should be read today.
To listen to the full episode, head over to our Patreon page and subscribe: patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-01-1603 min
Unburied BooksMelville Live at the Moby-Dick MarathonThis episode was recorded before a live audience at the New Bedford Whaling Museum during their annual Moby-Dick Marathon. We spoke with Tim Marr and Wyn Kelley of the Melville Society Cultural Project about Melville: A Novel written by Jean Giono and translated from French by Paul Eprile. Giono's "novel" was originally conceived as a preface to his French translation of Moby-Dick. Our conversation covers Giono's imagined vision of the great American author, the struggle to create art, and the role of an ideal reader.
We have more special Moby-Dick content coming soon on our Patreon! Check...
2024-01-0954 min
Unburied BooksTeaser: British Library Women Writers with Simon ThomasBook blogger, podcaster, and Ivy Compton-Burnett admirer Simon Thomas returns to discuss his work with the British Library Women Writers series and his favorite book in it: O, the Brave Music by Dorothy Evelyn Smith. We talk about the ethics of censorship in republishing and what makes this coming-of-age story so strangely uplifting despite its tragic elements. Toward the end, we debrief last summer's NYRB Classics bracket championship.
To listen to the full episode, head over to our Patreon page and subscribe: patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2024-01-0202 min
Unburied BooksMuhammad with Tariq AliWriter and filmmaker Tariq Ali joins us to discuss Muhammad written by Maxime Rodinson and translated from French by Anne Carter. We talk about Rodinson's Marxist perspective, how the biography works as an "antidote" to far-right sentiment, and what it means to read it during a war in Gaza.
Check out our Patreon here: patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2023-12-261h 13
Unburied BooksTeaser: Big Fiction with Dan SinykinIn this enlightening conversation, we talk to scholar Dan Sinykin about his book Big Fiction, which details the rise of conglomeration in American publishing and its impact on the kind of fiction that gets written, released, and acclaimed. We were delighted to hear his insights into the founding of the New York Review of Books, Renata Adler and Elizabeth Hardwick's use of autofiction, and the current spate of literature in translation.
To listen to the full episode, head over to our Patreon page and subscribe: patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2023-12-1903 min
Unburied BooksThe Inferno with Diane MehtaPoet Diane Mehta joins us to discuss Dante's Inferno translated by Ciaran Carson. We talk about our guest's ongoing Dante project, the multiple levels the text works on, and how, in the Florentine's view, the greatest sins stem from a lack of love.
We recently launched a Patreon featuring two exclusive bonus episodes a month! Check out our three patron tiers (Minor Work, Instant Classic, and Magnus Opus) here. And be sure to grab Tiny Extravaganzas (we especially love "Shredder") and read more about our guest's work here.
2023-12-121h 19
Unburied BooksTeaser: Antwerp with Michael BarronReturning guest Michael Barron joins us to discuss Roberto Bolaño's "curio" published near the end of his life. We talk about Bolaño's universe, his unromantic youth, and why this is the only book that doesn't embarrass him. To hear the full episode, head over to our Patreon page and subscribe: patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2023-12-0803 min
Unburied BooksNYRB Classics DraftIn this taster for the Patreon, Dylan and Kassia compete to draft their four favorite books covered on the show thus far. If you're interested in more lighthearted episodes like this, please consider trying out a subscription here: patreon.com/user?u=84429384
2023-12-0525 min
Unburied BooksZama with Esther AllenWriter Esther Allen joins us to discuss her translation of Antonio di Benedetto's Zama, an Argentine existential novel originally published 1956. We discuss the intricacies of translation, the author's repudiation of the idea of a historical novel, and Lucrecia Martel's 2017 film adaptation of the story. Listeners unfamiliar with the plot may want to read the book (and watch the movie) before tuning in.
References:
Burton PikeThe Man Without Qualities by Robert MusilJorge Luis BorgesJulio CortázarThe SilentiaryThe SuicidesCésar AiraRoberto Bolaño
2023-11-281h 17
Unburied BooksThe Word of the Speechless with Michael BarronWriter and editor Michael Barron joins us to share this short story collection from Julio Ramón Ribeyro. We discuss issues of class, the stereotyping of Latin American literature, and what it means to be "speechless." This book is one to be shared. Pass it on.
Read more about our guest's work here.
References:Alejandro ZambraGabriel García MárquezJorge Luis BorgesFranz KafkaJulio CortázarMario Vargas LlosaThe Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di LampedusaKatherine SilverCalvin and HobbesTár
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2023-11-141h 09
Unburied BooksThe Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner with James KelmanAuthor James Kelman joins us to discuss James Hogg's The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, originally published in 1824. It tells the story of a staunch Calvininst who is lured into a killing spree by a mysterious, shapeshifting being. We discuss the novel's unusual structure, moral ambiguity, and mixture of genres. Kelman offers historical insight into the book's philospophy and places the work in a modern, international context.
References:Andre GideFranz KafkaThe Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides by James Boswell and Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland...
2023-10-311h 22
Unburied BooksThe Other House with Sheridan HayWriter and scholar Sheridan Hay joins us to discuss The Other House by Henry James. An unusual work for the author in that it contains his only murder, we analyze the novel's theatrical inspiration, bizarre tone, and gruesome climax. Please be wary as we wound up spoiling this one earlier than we normally do.
Find us on Twitter or Instagram, and click here to view our most up-to-date episode schedule.
2023-10-171h 03
Unburied BooksThe Moon and the Bonfires with Patrick PreziosiWriter and critic Patrick Preziosi joins us to discuss Cesare Pavese's The Moon and the Bonfires, translated from Italian by R. W. Flint. The story features a nameless narrator who returns to his native Italy from America in the wake of World War II. We talk about the ghosts of the past, the cyclical nature of violence, and the innate desire to find one's home.
Be sure to follow Patrick on Twitter here.
References:Jean-Marie Straub and Daniele HuilletNatalia GinzburgFamily LexiconA Private Affair by Beppe FenoglioThe...
2023-10-031h 06
Unburied BooksA House and Its Head with John DarnielleMusician and author John Darnielle joins us to discuss A House and Its Head by Ivy Compton-Burnett, a wickedly funny novel first published in 1935. We talk about how Compton-Burnett's family background did or did not shape her style, explore the influence of Greek drama on her approach to narrative, and try to understand why we find her characters' conversations about horrific acts so hilarious.
Pre-order the new Mountain Goats album and check our their tour dates here.
References:The Life of Ivy Compton-Burnett by Hilary SpurlingThe Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky...
2023-09-191h 14
Unburied BooksButcher's Crossing with John WilliamsWashington Post books editor John Williams joins us to discuss... John Williams' Butcher's Crossing, orginally published in 1960. The story, set in the 1870s, follows a Harvard dropout as he attempts to find a truer version of himself in the West. We talk about the book's challenge to Emersonian transcendentalism, American rapaciousness, and Western archetypes. (And worry not, we don't play the theme to Star Wars.)
References:StonerWilliam MaxwellHenry JamesJean-Patrick ManchetteEve BabitzBarbara ComynsTove JanssonNatalia GinzburgSylvia Townsend WarnerAlbert Bierstadt...
2023-09-0556 min
Unburied BooksThe Go-Between with Vivek NarayananWriter and poet Vivek Narayanan joins us to discuss L. P. Hartley's The Go-Between. We talk about how Hartley, in this novel about a schoolboy's loss of innocence at the turn of the 20th century, explores childhood guilt and dramatizes the act of memory.
Follow Vivek on Twitter, and find out more about his work here.
References:Ali SmithValmikiVirginia WoolfThe BoatEustace and HildaSpeak, Memory by Vladimir NabokovFredoon KabrajiLagaanThe AshesThe Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
2023-08-221h 01
Unburied BooksThus Were Their Faces with Kim McNeill Kim McNeill joins us to dicuss Thus Were Their Faces, a collection of short stories written by Silvina Ocampo and translated from Spanish by Daniel Balderston. We explore Ocampo's various renditions of cruelty, trace themes and motifs across her career, and use the F-word (feminism).
Follow along with Kim's splendid #NYRBWomen23 project here.
References:The Levant Trilogy by Olivia ManningThe Tale of GenjiPilgrimage by Dorothy RichardsonA Chill in the Air by Iris OrigoMore Was Lost by Eleanor PerenyiSylvia Townsend WarnerRobert Walser...
2023-08-081h 05
Unburied BooksSummer Cooking with Valerie StiversWriter Valerie Stivers joins us to discuss Elizabeth David's Summer Cooking. Originally published in 1955, this cookbook celebrates the fleeting freshness and enduring joy of the summer season. We seek the origins of David's refreshing approach to cooking, ponder the uses of food photography, and learn how Valerie's David-inspired menu came together.
Find all of our guest's Paris Review columns here, and read her reviews for Compact Magazine here.
References:Nikolai GogolRichard BrautiganWriting at the Kitchen Table by Artemis CooperNorman DouglasAntony BeevorGiovanna GarzoniVictoria...
2023-07-251h 02
Unburied BooksAkenfield with Nick DuringNYRB publicist Nick During joins us to discuss Akenfield: Portrait of an English Village by Ronald Blythe, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 100. We talk about the tricky business of categorization, the tension between work and vocation, and the nature of agricultural society.
Massive thank you to John Hoekstra, who composed our theme music.
References:
BookCourt
Edwin Frank
Word from Wormingford
The View in Winter
John Piper
Shell Guides
John Nash
Cedric Morris
Charfie...
2023-07-111h 00
Unburied BooksAn African in Greenland with Chris LeeWriter Chris Lee joins us to discuss An African in Greenland written by Tété-Michel Kpomassie and translated from French by James Kirkup. The book follows a young man's dream to reach the Arctic. We investigate some tropes of travel literature, find surprising links between Togolese and Greenlandic culture, and thirst for some reindeer coffee.
References:"A Year of Reading the World" by Ann MorganLynn DavisTennessee Williams BBC InterviewJupiter's Travels by Ted SimonThe NYRB Classics Book ClubPinocchio by Carlo CollodiGuston in Time by...
2023-06-2754 min
Unburied BooksMary Olivier: A Life with Nancy PearlLibrarian, author, and critic Nancy Pearl joins us to discuss May Sinclair's Mary Olivier: A Life, originally published in 1919. We talk controlling mothers, Victorian roles, and the mysterious passage of time. Listeners unfamiliar with the plot may want to read the book before tuning in.
References:Virago Modern ClassicsThe Little ReviewUlysses by James JoyceTold by an Idiot by Rose MacaulayJane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëThe Mill on the Floss by George EliotPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenVilletteThe Grand Sophy by Georgette H...
2023-06-131h 06
Unburied BooksHistory of the NYRB Classics with Edwin FrankEdwin Frank, editorial director of the NYRB Classics, joins us to discuss the evolution of the series. We learn how the books are selected, how the project has grown, and whether or not there was a secret plan all along.
Endless thanks to John Hoekstra, who composed our theme music.
References:The Iliad and the Odyssey adapted by Jane Werner Watson and illustrated by Alice & Martin ProvensenThe Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. TolkienThe HobbitThe Reader's CatalogJ. R. AckerleyAlberto MoraviaThe...
2023-05-3048 min
Unburied BooksStalingrad with Antony BeevorHistorian Antony Beevor joins us to discuss Stalingrad written by Vasily Grossman and translated from Russian by Robert and Elizabeth Chandler. We talk about Grossman's observational powers, the boundaries between history and literature, and the context surrounding the book's narrative. Listeners unfamiliar with the plot may want to wait until they've read the book to tune in.
Read more about our guest's work here.
References:A Writer at WarLuba VinogradovaChristopher MacLehoseAndrew NurnbergArthur GrimmWar and Peace by Leo TolstoyLife and FateThe...
2023-05-161h 05
Unburied BooksIn a Lonely Place with Farran Smith NehmeFilm critic Farran Smith Nehme joins us to discuss In a Lonely Place written by Dorothy B. Hughes and adapted into a movie by Nicholas Ray. We talk about the book's unique approach to suspense, the film's relocation of the characters from the margins of Hollywood to the center, and some of our guest's favorite noirs. Listeners unfamiliar with the plot may want to wait until they've read the book (and watched the movie) to tune in.
Check out Farran's Sight and Sound list here. As promised, you can view Dylan's Ray ranking here and Kassia's top 100...
2023-05-0252 min
Unburied BooksA School for Fools with José VergaraScholar José Vergara joins the show to talk about A School for Fools written by Sasha Sokolov and translated from Russian by Alexander Boguslawski. Enroll in a fabulous world where the dead are alive, language changes forms, minds split, and love flowers.
Read our guest's article on A School for Fools here and more about his work here.
References:All Future Plunges to the PastJames JoyceJ. D. SalingerBetween Dog and WolfAstrophobiaMartina NapolitanoStalingrad by Vasily GrossmanVasily AksyonovAndrei BitovNiko...
2023-04-1857 min
Unburied BooksTurtle Diary with Ana GavrilovskaWriter Ana Gavrilovska joins us to talk about Turtle Diary written by Russell Hoban. We discuss middle age, loneliness, romance, Godlessness, and, of course, the symbolic resonance of turtles.
References:NinotchkaPagliacciStill Life with Woodpecker by Tom RobbinsI Heart HuckabeesThe SwimmerKing Kong
To purchase books covered on the show, please visit our digital bookshop at https://bookshop.org/shop/unburiedbooks. Buying them here helps to support the podcast.
2023-04-0458 min
Unburied BooksIn the Café of Lost Youth with Adam MorganCritic and journalist Adam Morgan joins us to talk about In the Cafe of Lost Youth written by Patrick Modiano and translated by Chris Clarke. We discuss the title's double meaning, recall the joys and sorrows of our own nocturnal wanderings, and nominate this book for sexiest NYRB Classic of all time. Also, we owe a massive thank you to John Hoekstra for composing our new theme music.
Read more about Adam Morgan's work here: https://adam-stephen-morgan.com/
References:When Harry Met SallyJulie and JuliaThe Beginning of Spring by Penelope...
2023-03-211h 04
Unburied BooksChess Story by Stefan ZweigDylan and Kassia unpack Stefan Zweig's Chess Story translated from German by Joel Rotenberg. They toy with some chess pieces, discuss the psychological effects of fascism, and heap praise on this thrilling novella.
References:The Life and Death of Colonel BlimpMilgram experimentHow the Scots Invented the Modern World: The True Story of How Western Europe's Poorest Nation Created Our World and Everything in It by Arthur HermanMarquis de WavrinOne Way PassageHistory Is Made at NightLet Them All TalkGrand Hotel Abyss: The Lives...
2023-03-0755 min
Unburied BooksA Belated IntroductionIn this bonus episode, we explain how the podcast got started, detail our plan to tackle the collection, and describe our personal taste in books. Once Kassia started listing her favorite NYRB books it was impossible to get her to stop. Hopefully the run of this podcast will be equally protracted.
References:Moby-Dick by Herman MelvilleVillette by Charlotte BronteThe Age of Innocence by Edith WhartonDanteHomerThe Silmarillion by J. R. R. TolkienIvy Compton-Burnett: A Memoir by Cicely GreigA House and Its Head by...
2023-02-2830 min
Unburied BooksShort Letter, Long Farewell with Joshua JonesWriter and artist Joshua Jones joins us to discuss Peter Handke's Short Letter, Long Farewell. We disassemble the machinery of American mythmaking, drift through the empty avenues of modern alienation, and wonder why Europeans are so weird about the Land of the Free. If you're anti-spoiler, we recommend saving this episode until you've had a chance to read the book.
More about our guest:
Joshua Jones is a queer, autistic writer and artist from South Wales, now residing in Cardiff. He is the Director of Dyddiau Du, a DIY community library and art/literature space...
2023-02-211h 13
Unburied BooksPeach Blossom Paradise with Canaan MorseTranslator and poet Canaan Morse joins us to discuss his translation of Peach Blossom Paradise, a Chinese historical novel written by Ge Fei. In this conversation, we unpack the book's relationship to utopia, revolution, and Communist history. We also learn more about Canaan's background and the publication process at NYRB Classics. Listeners unfamiliar with the plot may want to wait until they've read the book to tune in.
Books and authors (and songs!) mentioned:The Invisibility CloakMo YanKang YouweiWhite Deer Plain by Chen ZhongshiWater Margin by Shi Nai'an
2023-02-071h 25
Unburied BooksAn Ermine in Czernopol with Alina StefanescuWriter and translator Alina Stefanescu joins us to discuss An Ermine in Czernopol, a humorous and deadly serious novel written by Gregor von Rezzori and translated by Philip Boehm. In this multilayered discussion, we seek the ghosts of Chernivtsi, a city in present-day Ukraine, and probe the meaning of honor and belonging in light of creeping fascism and anti-Semitism. Listeners unfamiliar with the plot may want to wait until they've read the book to tune in.
Learn more about Alina's work at https://www.alinastefanescuwriter.com.
To purchase books we've covered and browse some of D...
2023-01-241h 23
Unburied BooksMy Father and Myself with Vivian GornickWriter and critic Vivian Gornick joins us to discuss My Father and Myself, a memoir written by J. R. Ackerley. We explore the mysteries of family life, the search for "the Ideal Friend" and the ethics of writing about relatives.
2023-01-1036 min
Unburied BooksLolly Willowes with Simon ThomasThis week we discuss Sylvia Townsend Warner's Lolly Willowes. The illustrious Simon Thomas, our first-ever guest, helps us understand how the 1920s trend for the fantastic helped produce this weird, wonderful book about a spinster aunt who sells her soul to Satan. But is it satire? And is it really a feminist manifesto? We tackle these and other pertinent questions while having a laugh along the way. Butter your villager-shaped scones, sit back and enjoy the broomstick ride.
2022-12-271h 08
Unburied BooksJakob von Gunten by Robert WalserAttention, students! Today's lesson will cover Jakob von Gunten, a book that purports to be the diary of a pupil at a mysterious school for servants. It was written by Swiss flaneur Robert Walser, a man with an episodic life if there ever was one. Don your wool coat and prepare to discuss Nietszche! But whatever you do, don't mention Kafka.
2022-12-1341 min
Global Youth MattersKassia OsetJournalist, book author, world traveler, and podcaster, Kassia Oset relates her journey as a creative person. She also shares how her adventurous and bold spirit helps her navigate challenges.
Her podcast: https://have-we-met-before.castos.com/
2022-08-0128 min
Have We Met Before?Nameless French GuyI have never seen him with a friend or with a woman. I have seen him smoke in the bath and drink cheap vodka by the gallon.
Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com.
Cover art by Ana Bustelo
2022-03-0704 min
Have We Met Before?ThucydidesHad he been a success in his own age, he may have never made his name.
Cover art by Ana Bustelo
2022-02-2116 min
Have We Met Before?MariaShe had a greasy ponytail and a threadbare peacoat... I decided to contrive a reason to talk to her.
Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com.
Cover art by Ana Bustelo
2022-02-0825 min
Have We Met Before?The Russian (Èluósī rén)On this particular night, the real, live students were the South African, the Frenchman, the Brazilian, the Russian and myself, the American (Měiguó rén). If that sounds like the cast of an Agatha Christie story, you aren’t too far off from what was about to take place.
Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com.
Cover art by Ana Bustelo
2022-01-2423 min
Have We Met Before?HusseinSome call him a terrorist, but terrorism is in the eye of the beholder.
Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com.
Cover art by Ana Bustelo
2022-01-1136 min
Have We Met Before?Window FourAbout her I knew tantalizingly little, but every detail seemed significant.
Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com. Thank you to Sunny Vinsavich for her voice acting talent.
Cover art by Ana Bustelo
2021-12-2044 min
Have We Met Before?TyricoHe was selling seashells on Heywoods Beach.
Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com.
Cover art by Ana Bustelo
2021-12-0619 min
Have We Met Before?Old Man FredKassia gets into a car with some strangers and lets them drive her 50 miles into the woods.
Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com.
Cover art by Ana Bustelo
2021-11-2227 min
Have We Met Before?AmparoA landlady in Buenos Aires takes in a mysterious foreigner as her sort of own.
Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com.
Cover art by Ana Bustelo
2021-11-0831 min
Have We Met Before?Habib 1Two strangers meet in a foreign city.
For more about Longhua's history: https://www.jstor.org/stable/23890334. Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com.
Cover art by Ana Bustelo
2021-10-2535 min