Unburied Books

Party Going with Ian Patterson

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:37:20 +0000

In this episode, poet, translator, and the man behind Nemo's Almanac Ian Patterson, joins us to discuss Party Going by Henry Green. We talk about the novel's strange writing style, class and gender politics, and Green's obsession with the promiscuous.

Become a subscriber for further discussions on your favorite classics.

Teaser: Silas Marner by George Eliot

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 22:08:09 +0000

In 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.

Life and Fate with Robert Chandler

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Translator Robert Chandler joins us to discuss his journey with Vasily Grossman, Stalingrad versus Life and Fate, and Grossman's representation of totalitarianism.

Teaser: "Christmas Every Day" by William Dean Howells

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 13:08:00 +0000

The 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.

Rock Crystal by Adalbert Stifter

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:02:00 +0000

Dylan 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.

Teaser: The Toilers of the Sea by Victor Hugo

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 03:19:42 +0000

In 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.

The Book of Ebenezer Le Page with Matt Tannenbaum

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 19:09:00 +0000

In this episode, Matt Tannenbaum, proprietor of Lenox, Massachusetts' The Bookstore and focus of the documentary Hello, Bookstore, joins us to discuss The Book of Ebenezer Le Page by G. B. Edwards. At 80, Guernseyman Ebenezer reflects on the joys, sorrows, and annoyances of his life as he searches for an heir to his modest fortune, some of which is buried in the backyard. We talk about the novel's direct, singular style, the overlapping of Edwards' character with Le Page's, and Tannenbaum's decades of reading and loving the book.

Find out more about The Bookstore.

Become a subscriber for further yapping on Guernsey via Victor Hugo's The Toilers of the Sea.

Teaser: The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 01:33:13 +0000

We paired last month's NYRB Classic, The Golovlyov Family, with another Russian classic on the Patreon, The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov, and compare these tales about the dying Russian aristocracy and the freedom of serfs.

Listen to the full epsiode here.

The Golovlyov Family with José Vergara

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Professor of Russian José Vergara recommends a dark story of family betrayal. Shchedrin's 1880 novel follows the fall of a miserly matriarch and the rise of her even more punitive son. We talk about tragicomedy, fate, faith, and constant death. Spoilers are out of control. This is one of our favorite books, so read it quick!

Michaela Telfer's article on bureaucracy in the novel (open access)

Teaser: The Aspern Papers by Henry James

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this clip, we revisit the classic tale of toxic stan culture: Henry James' The Aspern Papers. Ever moved into a dilapidated Venetian palazzo to possibly steal the yellowing missives exchanged between your literary idol and his former flame? Us neither! Join us as we pick apart the narrator's twisted mind.

Hear the full episode on our Patreon.

In the Freud Archives with Elise Riley

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Elise Riley, an accessioning archivist at the Beinecke Library, offers us an expert's perspective on In The Freud Archives, Janet Malcolm's nonfictional exploration of archival infighting. The book concerns three psychoanalytic scholars who come to epistolary blows over the scattered remains of Freud's legacy. But unlike most niche academic debates, this one resulted in a $13 million dollar lawsuit. In this episode, we discuss Malcolm's narrative distance, the role of fantasy versus reality, and some things the Sigmund Freud Archives could have done to avoid all this Oedipal drama.

For more on archives and obsession, join our Patreon to hear next week's episode on Henry James' The Aspern Papers.

Teaser: Home with Simon Thomas

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 13:54:45 +0000

In this clip, we discuss how Home acts as a "spiritual sequel" to Penelope Mortimer's The Pumpkin Eater, showcasing a more detailed portrait of the narrator's family and how it reflected mid-century British society.

To hear the full episode, check out our Patreon.

The Pumpkin Eater with Lucy Scholes

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

McNally Editions senior editor Lucy Scholes joins the show to talk about Penelope Mortimer's dark novel of marriage and parenthood, the Pumpkin Eater. We discuss the narrator's mysterious identity, her rage at psychoanalysis, and Anne Bancroft's interpretation of her in the 1964 film adaptation.

Read Lucy's piece on Mortimer here.

Check out Daddy's Gone A-Hunting and The Home.

Teaser: The Vagabond by Colette

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this clip, we discuss the power of words versus images and compare Colette and Clébert's notions of vagabondage.

To hear the full episode, check out our Patreon.

Paris Vagabond with Zito Madu

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Writer Zito Madu joins us to discuss Jean-Paul Clébert's Paris Vagabond translated from French by Donald Nicholson-Smith. In a series of vignettes, the book explores life on the streets of the city in the years following WWII. We talk about Clébert's middle-class background, analyze the photographs taken by Patrice Molinard, and consider the romanticization of "vagabonds."

Order our guest's book here.

And to receive extra episodes, consider becoming a patron.

Teaser: The Coming of the Book by Lucien Febvre and Henri-Jean Martin

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Inspired by Schattenfroh, we discuss a seminal work on the impact of printing from 1450 to 1800 written by Lucien Febvre and Henri-Jean Martin. In this clip, we explore a few of the many mysteries in the life of Johannes Gutenberg.

To hear the rest, become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384

Schattenfroh with Michael Lentz and Max Lawton

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Mon, 26 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In 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

Teaser: Chaucer's Scribes with Lawrence Warner

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Wed, 07 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In 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

Anglo-Saxon Attitudes by Angus Wilson

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

And 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

Shorts: Unbound with Jonathan Meades and John Mitchinson

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 13:00:00 +0000

On 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

Teaser: A Tomb for Boris Davidovich by Danilo Kiš

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:31:12 +0000

In 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

Ending Up with Craig Brown

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Author 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

Teaser: Dream of the Red Chamber Part 2 with Eileen Cheng-yin Chow and Wai-yee Li

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Eileen 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

Angel with Mandylion Press

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Mabel 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.

Teaser: Pablo Casals, "Chopin," and the Esotericism of Classical Music

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

It'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

Teaser: Stranger than Fiction with Edwin Frank

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

NYRB 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

The Lily in the Valley with Peter Bush

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Peter 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

Teaser: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

In 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

Clandestine in Chile with Ignacio Sánchez Prado

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Scholar 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

Teaser: Dante in Motion and the Ethereal Art of Silent Film

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

In 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

Shorts: Two Dollar Radio with Eric Obenauf

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome 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.

Teaser: Dream of the Red Chamber Part 1

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 12:22:00 +0000

In 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

The Slaves of Solitude with Nora

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

We 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

Teaser: Iliad or Odyssey?

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

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

With Renata Adler

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Author, 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.

Teaser: Melville, Wharton, and the Perils of Pilgrimage

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

In 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

Waiting for the Fear with Merve Emre

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Critic 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

Teaser: The Novel with Steven Moore

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Critic 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

São Bernardo with Padma Viswanathan

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Writer 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?u=84429384

Teaser: 19 Ways of Looking at Wang Wei with Canaan Morse

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Chinese 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

Castle Gripsholm by Kurt Tucholsky

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Dylan 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

Teaser: Strange Pilgrims by Gabriel García Márquez

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Dylan 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

Belchamber by Howard Sturgis

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Dylan 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

Skeletons in the Closet with Howard A. Rodman

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Screenwriter 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

Teaser: The Silmarillion with Alex Cuellar

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Tolkien 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

The Land Breakers with Chris Via

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 12:09:00 +0000

Leaf 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

Teaser: They with Lucy Scholes

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 12:12:00 +0000

In 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

Talk with Linda Rosenkrantz

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Wed, 29 May 2024 12:01:00 +0000

Author 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

Teaser: The Fringes of Story with Amit Chaudhuri

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Wed, 22 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Novelist 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

Teaser: T. H. White with Kate Macdonald

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 17 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

In 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

The Goshawk with Helen Macdonald

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 14 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

We 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

Teaser: The Leopard with Patrick Preziosi

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 07 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Writer 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

Moderan with Bijan Stephen

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Writer 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

Teaser: "Tortured Poets" with Alina Stefanescu

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 19:42:00 +0000

Poet 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

Teaser: I'm Not Complaining with Nancy Pearl

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

After 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

Moravagine with Ryan Alexander

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Writer 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/

And, for two more book-related episodes a month, our Patreon is a steal: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384

Teaser: Celia Dale with Andrew Male

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Enjoy 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

How to Start a Literary Magazine with Anthony Garrett

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 19:25:00 +0000

In 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/

Season of Migration to the North with Laila Lalami

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Author 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

Blue Lard with Max Lawton

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Max 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.

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Teaser: Eunoia by Christian Bök

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

In 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

The Radiance of the King with Frank Wynne

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Writer 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

Teaser: Persuasion by Jane Austen

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

This 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

The Skin of Dreams with Chris Clarke

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Chris 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.

Teaser: Cover Design with Katy Homans

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 13:12:00 +0000

Designer 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

Tun-huang by Yasushi Inoue

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 16:20:52 +0000

In 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

Teaser: Moby-Dick with Will Menaker

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Chapo 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

Melville Live at the Moby-Dick Marathon

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 13:00:00 +0000

This 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 out our page here: patreon.com/user?u=84429384

Teaser: British Library Women Writers with Simon Thomas

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Book 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

Muhammad with Tariq Ali

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Writer 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

Teaser: Big Fiction with Dan Sinykin

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

In 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

The Inferno with Diane Mehta

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Poet 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.

Teaser: Antwerp with Michael Barron

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Returning 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

NYRB Classics Draft

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

In 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

Zama with Esther Allen

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 16:50:00 +0000

Writer 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 Pike
The Man Without Qualities by Robert Musil
Jorge Luis Borges
Julio Cortázar
The Silentiary
The Suicides
César Aira
Roberto Bolaño
The Sound of Music
Werner Herzog
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
"Sensini" by Bolaño
Guido Boggiani
Canaan Morse
Peach Blossom Paradise
Waiting for Godot
Samuel Beckett
Daisy Rockwell
Benjamin Kunkel
In a Lonely Place
"Benito Cereno" by Herman Melville
Juan José Saer
Federico Fellini
Roberto Bolaño's Fiction: An Expanding Universe by Chris Andrews

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The Word of the Speechless with Michael Barron

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Writer 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.

The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner with James Kelman

Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Author 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 Gide
Franz Kafka
The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides by James Boswell and Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland by Samuel Johnson
The Collected Letters of James Hogg
The Brownie of Bodsbeck
John Brown
William Blake
Edgar Allan Poe
Robert Louis Stevenson
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Samuel Beckett
The Castle
The Trial
Peggotty in David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Immanuel Kant
David Hume
Adam Smith
Francis Hutchinson
James Clerk Maxwell
Hegel
Karl Marx
Soren Kierkegaard
Rene Decartes
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Blackwood's Magazine
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Francisco Goya
William Wordsworth
Strange Case of Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde
How Late It Was, How Late
Robert the Bruce
Goethe
Albert Camus
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Jack Kerouac
Knut Hamsun
Lucinda Williams
Tom Leonard