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SPILL THE TEA on Penguin Classics with Elda Rotor

Apr 1, 2025

48:47

For the inaugural episode of the new series Spill the Tea, host Jason Blitman is joined by Elda Rotor, VP and Publisher of Penguin Classics. They delve into what defines a 'classic,' explore Penguin's expansive and diverse catalog, talk about contemporary works, and discuss the importance of context in classic literature. Make sure to stick around for Elda's classic character answers in a game of "Screw/Marry/Kill!"

Elda Rotor oversees the U.S. classics publishing program including the works of John Steinbeck, Arthur Miller, Shirley Jackson, William Golding, Amy Tan, Alice Walker, and the Pelican Shakespeare series. Elda originated several series including the Penguin Classics Marvel Collection, Penguin Vitae, Penguin Liberty, Penguin Drop Caps, Penguin Orange Collection, Penguin Horror with Guillermo del Toro, and the forthcoming Penguin Speculative Fiction Special.

Classics You Don't Know But Should:

The Last Supper of Queer Apostles by Pedro Lemebel
Dogeaters by Jessica Hagedorn
The Time Regulation Institute by Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar
Minor Notes, Vol. 1 edited by Joshua Bennett and Jesse McCarthy
The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas by Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis

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