Jennifer Habel, a poet and co-author of 'Days Work,' and Chris Bachelder, a novelist, dive into the obsession that sparked Habel's midlife exploration tied to Herman Melville's life and literature. They discuss how Melville's works, particularly 'Moby Dick,' evolved from obligation to genuine appreciation for them. The conversation also reveals the profound friendship between Melville and Hawthorne, alongside themes of personal struggle, ambition, and legacy, as both artists reflect on their own journeys and the impact of their literary inspirations.
56:00
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Melville's Controlled Creativity
Melville's strangeness in writing is intentional, not just for show.
His narrative system allows many things, but not everything, balancing creativity with coherence.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Author's Melville Obsession
Jennifer Habel became obsessed with Herman Melville's life after reading about his time at Arrowhead farm.
This obsession mirrors the narrator's journey in the novel as she navigates Melville scholarship and reflects on artistic cost versus worth.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Melville's Intense Writing Period
Melville wrote Moby Dick at age 31 amidst family life and financial struggle.
He lived near Hawthorne, writing obsessively while juggling farm chores and feeling elated yet exhausted.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Moby-Dick is a novel that tells the story of Captain Ahab's maniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg. Narrated by Ishmael, the story follows the crew of the whaling ship Pequod as they embark on a journey that explores themes of obsession, man vs. nature, and the existential questions of good and evil. The novel is rich in detailed descriptions of whale hunting and life aboard a culturally diverse crew, and it has become a cornerstone of American and world literature[2][3][5].
Aubrey-Maturin Series
Patrick O'Brian
The Aubrey-Maturin series consists of 20 completed and one unfinished novel, published between 1969 and 2004. The series follows the careers and personal lives of Captain Jack Aubrey, a naval officer in the Royal Navy, and Dr. Stephen Maturin, a physician, naturalist, and intelligence agent. The novels are renowned for their meticulous historical detail, complex characters, and the enduring friendship between Aubrey and Maturin. The series spans various settings, including naval battles, diplomatic missions, and personal struggles, all set against the backdrop of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
The scarlet letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is set in 17th-century Boston and revolves around Hester Prynne, a young woman who is publicly shamed for committing adultery. She is forced to wear a scarlet letter 'A' on her clothing as a symbol of her sin. The novel delves into themes of guilt, sin, redemption, and the strict moral codes of the Puritan community. Hester's husband, Roger Chillingworth, seeks revenge against her lover, Arthur Dimmesdale, a local minister who is wracked with guilt over his secret sin. The story explores the psychological and emotional suffering of the characters, ultimately leading to a dramatic public confession by Dimmesdale and the subsequent consequences for all involved. The novel is a classic moral study and a masterpiece of American literature, critiquing the hypocrisy and rigid moral standards of the Puritan society[2][3][4].
Sleepless Nights
None
Leslie Jamison
The Stranger's House: Writing Northern Ireland
Alexander Poots
Days Work
Days Work
Chris Batchelder
Jennifer Habel
What happens when a woman becomes obsessed with Herman Melville during the pandemic? What if the process of sorting fact from fiction in Melville's work inspires a midlife reckoning with her own marriage and ambition? And what if she (a poet) and her husband (a novelist, by the way) write a book about all of it? Well, the result would be something like Dayswork: A Novel, which has been called "a supremely literate achievement that wears its erudition lightly." In this episode, Jacke talks to the poet and her novelist husband, Jennifer Habel and Chris Bachelder, about what Melville means to them. PLUS Alexander Boots (The Strangers' House: Writing Northern Ireland) discusses his choice for the last book he will ever read.
The History of Literature 
