Secret Life of Books
Books & Literature
About
Every book has two stories: the one it tells, and the one it hides.The Secret Life of Books is a fascinating, addictive, often shocking, occasionally hilarious weekly podcast starring Sophie Gee, an English professor at Princeton University, and Jonty Claypole, formerly director of arts at the BBC. Every week these virtuoso critics and close friends take an iconic book and reveal the hidden story behind the story: who made it, their clandestine motives, the undeclared stakes, the scandalous backstory and above all the secret, mysterious meanings of books we thought we knew.-- To join the Secret Life of B...
Episodes
- The Other Bennet Sister with author Janice Hadlow
Janice Hadlow joins the Secret Life of Books to discuss her novel, The Other Bennet Sister, which reimagines Pride and Prejudice. The conversation covers adapting classic literature for the screen and her book's journey to adaptation.
- Back to School 4: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
This episode of Secret Life of Books discusses Curtis Sittenfeld's novel "Prep," focusing on its depiction of East Coast preppy culture and New England boarding schools. The discussion explores the novel's portrayal of class and social dyn…
- Back to School 3: A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines
This episode explores Barry Hines' novel "A Kestrel for a Knave," a story about a 15-year-old boy named Billy Casper from Yorkshire. It delves into the book's masterpiece status, its immediate film adaptation by Ken Loach, and the impact o…
- Back to School 2: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
This episode of Secret Life of Books discusses Muriel Spark's 1961 novel "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," which tells the story of a charismatic teacher and her impact on a group of girls in 1930s Edinburgh. The discussion covers the book'…
- Back to School 1: Tom Brown's School Days
This episode of Secret Life of Books discusses Thomas Hughes' novel 'Tom Brown's School Days.' It examines the book's impact on school fiction and its portrayal of 19th-century public school education.
- The Secret Life of (Literary) Honeymoons
Sophie and Jonty examine the history of disastrous honeymoons in classic literature and among Victorian literati. They evaluate these trips using criteria such as travel quality and marital outcomes.
- Beowulf: Inside the Anglo-Saxon mind
In this episode of Secret Life of Books, hosts Sophie and Jonty explore the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf. They discuss its historical context, poetic form, and its influence on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and Toni Morrison.
- "On Morrison": a conversation with Namwali Serpell
In this episode of Secret Life of Books, novelist and Harvard professor Namwali Serpell discusses her book "On Morrison," which offers new perspectives on the life and work of Toni Morrison. The conversation explores why Morrison's novels…
- Toni Morrison 3: Beloved
Sophie and Jonty examine Toni Morrison’s 1987 novel Beloved, discussing its depiction of the Black experience, its origin in the true story of Margaret Garner, and the nature of the ghost that haunts the protagonists.
- SLoB Goes to the Oscars: Frankenstein vs Hamnet
This episode of Secret Life of Books discusses the impact of recent film adaptations of Frankenstein and Hamnet during Oscars week. The host explores whether these reinterpretations enhance the appreciation of the literary originals or rep…
- Saved from Fire: the Toni Morrison Archives
Professor Autumn Womack discusses her experiences working with the Toni Morrison Archives at Princeton University and the librarians who salvaged them after a fire. She further explores how research in these archives can offer new perspect…
- Toni Morrison 2: Song of Solomon
This episode examines Toni Morrison's 1977 novel, Song of Solomon, highlighting how it brought her mainstream success and reshaped African American literature. The discussion covers her use of mythology, family history, and a male protagon…
- The Other Bronte Girl: Anne Bronte's Tenant of Wildfell Hall
This episode of Secret Life of Books examines Anne Brontë's 1848 novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Hosts Sophie and Jonty explore the book's themes of domestic violence and infidelity, compare its motifs to her sisters' works, and discus…
- Jane Austen's Birthday: why everyone wants to party with Jane
In this special bonus episode of Secret Life of Books, Professor Devoney Looser discusses the upcoming 250th birthday celebrations for Jane Austen. They explore the continued popularity of Austen's work and look toward new screen adaptatio…
- Emerald Fennell's "Wuthering Heights": is the hype worth it?
Hosts Sophie and Jonty review the film adaptation of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, directed by Emerald Fennell. They discuss character arcs and explore themes including race, class, sex, domestic violence, and pets.
- Wuthering Heights: Is this really the greatest love story of all time?
This episode of Secret Life of Books re-examines Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights ahead of Emerald Fennell's upcoming film adaptation. The hosts explore the author's biography, the novel's creation, and discuss why the Heathcliff-Catherine…
- Frankenstein in Oxford: A Conversation with Richard Ovenden, OBE
Sophie interviews Richard Ovenden, the 25th Bodley’s Librarian, about the manuscript of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. They discuss how the Bodleian Library acquired the manuscript and explore its vast collection of materials related to the…
- Toni Morrison 1: The Bluest Eye
This episode of Secret Life of Books explores Toni Morrison's 1970 debut novel, The Bluest Eye. It examines the book's themes, its status as a frequently banned work, and its impact on American literature.
- Queens of Crime 4: The Tiger in the Smoke by Margery Allingham
Sophie and Jonty examine Margery Allingham's 1952 novel The Tiger in the Smoke. They discuss how the author evolved her writing style and shifted focus from character Albert Campion to detective Charlie Luke in this post-WWII crime novel.
- To See or Not to See? Hamnet tune-up session
The podcast revisits an early episode about Maggie O'Farrell's novel Hamnet, coinciding with the release of the film adaptation by Chloe Zhao. The discussion explores the book's reimagining of Anne Hathaway and the impact of the death of S…
- Queens of Crime 3: A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie
In this episode of Secret Life of Books, hosts Sophie and Jonty examine Agatha Christie's 1950 novel A Murder is Announced. They discuss how the post-World War II environment of austerity and social change influenced Christie’s writing and…
- Queens of Crime 2: Vintage Murder by Ngaio Marsh
This episode explores Ngaio Marsh's novel Vintage Murder, featuring detective Roderick Alleyn in New Zealand. The discussion examines the book's depiction of the theater world, Maori culture, and the tensions of late British imperialism.
- The Golden Age of Crime with Grantchester's James Runcie
Author James Runcie joins the podcast to discuss the Golden Age of Crime, the inspiration behind his Grantchester Mysteries, and the influence of David Kynaston on his work. The conversation also explores Runcie's family background and the…
- Queens of Crime 1: Gaudy Night by Dorothy L Sayers
This episode explores the evolution of Golden Age detective fiction in the 1930s, focusing on the work of the 'Queens of Crime' including Dorothy L. Sayers. It examines how societal changes and world events influenced the genre following t…
- By George (Eliot) She's Done It! The road to Middlemarch
This episode of Secret Life of Books serves as a primer on George Eliot and her novel Middlemarch, exploring her life, writing career, and the origins of her pen name. The hosts introduce a new subscription-based series that will analyze t…
- A SLoB Christmas Cracker
This episode explores the literary history of Christmas, tracing its evolution from fourteenth-century tales of the Green Knight to the austere Puritan era and the eventual rise of Victorian festive traditions. The hosts examine how variou…
- The Women Who Made Jane Austen
This episode of Secret Life of Books celebrates Jane Austen's 250th birthday by highlighting the female writers who influenced her craft. The discussion explores the literary movement behind Austen, featuring works by authors such as Aphra…
- Big Cat Theory: William Blake's The Tyger
This episode explores William Blake's poem "The Tyger," examining its historical context, symbolic possibilities, and the poet's life. The hosts also discuss Blake's work as an illustrator and his literary legacy.
- Henry James 3: Turn of the Screw
This episode of Secret Life of Books explores Henry James's novella The Turn of the Screw, examining its place in 1890s literature and why it is considered a classic psychological ghost story.
- Henry James 2: Colm Tóibín on Henry James
Author Colm Tóibín discusses his perspective on the writing of Henry James, reflecting on his own career and the experience of recreating James's life in his novel, The Master. The discussion explores lessons in craftsmanship and literary…
- Henry James 1: The Portrait of a Lady
Sophie and Jonty examine Henry James's novel The Portrait of a Lady, discussing its historical reception by contemporaries and its status as a masterpiece of English literature. The episode explores the character of Isabel Archer and the b…
- Greece Lightnin': My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
To celebrate the first anniversary of Secret Life of Books, Sophie and Jonty revisit Gerald Durrell's memoir, My Family and Other Animals. They discuss the memoir's background, the real-life family behind the book, and the historical conte…
- American Horror 3: Salem's Lot by Stephen King
This episode explores Stephen King's 1975 novel Salem's Lot, examining the author's rise to international success and what makes this vampire story an enduring work of horror.
- American Horror 2: Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
Sophie and Jonty examine Ira Levin’s horror novel Rosemary's Baby, discussing how it reflects 1960s societal anxieties and its portrayal of coercive relationships. They explore the book's themes of domestic abuse and misogyny while conside…
- American Horror: The Haunting of Hill House
In this episode, Sophie and Jonty discuss Shirley Jackson's 1959 novel, The Haunting of Hill House. They explore how the post-1945 landscape influenced American horror literature and examine Jackson's transition from writing suburban memoi…
- Montaigne pt2: A Montaigne out of a mole hill (with Rowan Tomlinson)
Host Jonty interviews historian Rowan Tomlinson about 16th-century French essayist Michel de Montaigne. They explore Montaigne's influence and the Reformation in this second of two miniature episodes about the author.
- Montaigne pt1: Climb Every Montaigne (with Stephen Greenblatt)
In this episode of Secret Life of Books, Sophie speaks with literary scholar Stephen Greenblatt about the influence and legacy of French essayist Michel de Montaigne. The conversation explores why Montaigne remains a pivotal figure in unde…
- SLoB's Four (literary) weddings and a funeral
This episode of Secret Life of Books explores the significance of weddings and funerals in literature. It examines how these milestone events serve as moments to reveal characters' true desires and emotions.
- Wilkie Collins 2: The Moonstone
Jonty and Sophie discuss Wilkie Collins' 1868 novel The Moonstone, examining its influence on the detective genre and its themes regarding colonialism and Victorian morality. They also explore how Collins' opium addiction impacted the writ…
- BONUS: Jennifer Egan on the Woman in White
Author Jennifer Egan joins the Secret Life of Books podcast to discuss Wilkie Collins' classic thriller, The Woman in White. The conversation explores the novel's gothic themes and its influence on modern suspense literature.
- Wilkie Collins 1: The Woman in White
This episode explores the history and themes of Wilkie Collins's sensation fiction novel, The Woman in White. It examines the character of Marian Halcombe, Collins's exploration of being an outsider, and the book's legacy as a foundational…
- SLOB Reads: The Sonnet with Paul Muldoon
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon joins the Secret Life of Books to discuss the history, challenges, and appeal of the sonnet. The conversation highlights the release of his new anthology, Scanty Plot of Ground.
- The Secret Life of Trains: how rail travel changed fiction - for ever
In this episode of Secret Life of Books, hosts Sophie and Jonty explore the influence of train travel on literature. They discuss how trains serve as social settings and narrative devices in various novels, including works by Agatha Christ…
- BONUS: Writing Virginia Woolf's life (with Hermione Lee)
In this final episode of the Virginia Woolf series, Jonty interviews literary biographer Hermione Lee about writing the life of Virginia Woolf. They discuss the challenges of characterizing a subject who held specific views on biography an…
- Virginia Woolf 5: The Waves
In this episode of Secret Life of Books, hosts Sophie and Jonty discuss Virginia Woolf’s 1931 experimental novel, The Waves. Woolf scholar Alexandra Harris joins the show to analyze the book's narrative style and its significance within Wo…
- Virginia Woolf 4: A Room Of One's Own
Hosts Sophie and Jonty explore Virginia Woolf's feminist essay "A Room of One's Own," discussing its origins as a lecture, the inclusion of Shakespeare's sister Judith, and its lasting impact on literature.
- Virginia Woolf 3: Orlando
This episode explores Virginia Woolf’s historical novel Orlando, examining its themes of gender, love, and literary history. Hosts Jonty and Sophie discuss the novel's origins, its connection to Vita Sackville-West, and its significance wi…
- BONUS: Reading Mrs Dalloway (with Alexandra Schwartz)
Sophie speaks with writer and critic Alexandra Schwartz about Virginia Woolf's novel Mrs. Dalloway. They discuss themes of the book, the importance of reading classics, and why it is worth throwing a party.
- Virginia Woolf 2: To The Lighthouse
Sophie and Jonty explore Virginia Woolf's novel To the Lighthouse, covering its publication, themes of time and middle age, and Woolf's life, including her upbringing and early mental health struggles. The episode also touches on holiday c…
- BONUS: Virginia Woolf, the not-so-Common Reader (with Alexandra Harris)
Jonty hosts author and scholar Alexandra Harris to discuss the reading philosophy of Virginia Woolf. They explore Woolf's view of reading as an active, creative process and discuss the books she admired.