The World in Time / Lapham’s Quarterly

Alexander Chee, a novelist and essayist, joins historians Aaron Sachs and Caleb Crain to explore the surprising intimate bonds in Moby Dick. Chee delves into chapter four's tender male camaraderie, proposing the novel as a queer love letter to Nathaniel Hawthorne. Sachs examines the captivating metaphor of the 'Monkey Rope', highlighting themes of interdependence and societal implications. Crain interprets Queequeg's journey in his coffin through a Platonic lens, enriching the discussion about beauty, mortality, and the complex layers of Melville's work.

Brenda Wineapple, a historian and author known for her work on the 1925 Scopes trial, delves into this pivotal moment in American history. She examines the clash between renowned lawyer Clarence Darrow and politician William Jennings Bryan, revealing their complex moral landscapes. The conversation highlights how the trial symbolized broader cultural tensions of the 1920s, touching on issues like academic freedom and the role of religion post-World War I. Wineapple also shares fascinating insights about Dayton's real atmosphere versus its dramatized stereotypes.

Join Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Elizabeth Kolbert as she dives into her latest book, exploring the astonishing diversity of life on our planet. She discusses the challenges and rewards of field reporting, including her firsthand account of a sperm whale's birth. Kolbert highlights the innovative use of machine learning in understanding whale communications and how each species showcases unique survival adaptations. Engage with her thoughts on balancing joy and despair in environmental writing while seeking to awaken curiosity about the natural world.

“Father Mapple is in some strange, almost obscure way, a kind of negative double for Ahab,” says novelist and critic Charles Baxter in this episode of The World in Time. “Like Ahab, he is speaking from a great height. He begins his sermon by issuing orders. He tells all the congregants to sit down. And, you know, they have to listen to him. What other choice do they have? But what is important to me in ‘The Sermon’ is that he—how can I put this? He is the person who wants to bring a sense of proportion. And Ahab is the person who wants you to give up any sense of proportionality. It’s almost impossible to put things into perspective with Ahab. Father Mapple kind of supplies a warning and a possible lens for a reading of the entire novel. What Mapple is saying in his sermon, starting from the Book of Jonah, is that we have to learn humility. It is no use to flee from God. God will find us. And the last paragraph of ‘The Sermon’ is one of the most beautiful things, I think, that Melville ever wrote.” Charles Baxter, author most recently of Blood Test: A Comedy and Wonderlands: Essays on the Life of Literature, visits The World in Time to talk with Donovan Hohn about the politics and the mysteries of charisma in Moby-Dick. The conversation dwells on Chapter 9: “The Sermon,” in which Father Mapple, from his cockpit of a pulpit, pilots a congregation of New Bedford whalers through the theological storms of the Book of Jonah. Baxter and Hohn consider whether the novel affirms what Father Mapple preaches. They contrast his humble leadership with Captain Ahab’s narcissistic yet magnetic charisma. And they consider what both Ahab and a showman like P.T. Barnum might reveal about the charismatic confidence men who command our attention and our country today.

“They were against all categories,” says Nicholas Boggs of James Baldwin and the men he loved in this week’s episode of The World in Time. “They really were outsiders, all of them. Sometimes people think, oh, well, he was just drawn to these men who were essentially straight, like he had some kind of complex or something. Maybe. But he was also just drawn to these crazy outsiders. As Yoran Cazac put it, they were ‘eating the same substance,’ and they happened to be of different nationalities and races and even sexualities. I appreciate that they had these complicated relationships where they saw each other across difference for who they were and what they shared. It’s what sustained Baldwin. It’s what enabled him to write. It’s what he wrote about.” This week on the podcast, Donovan Hohn speaks with biographer Nicholas Boggs about Baldwin: A Love Story, a book three decades in the making. The episode follows James Baldwin on his transatlantic commutes, introducing listeners to four formative—and transformative—friendships with “crazy outsiders” that sustained Baldwin and that organize this new biography. We meet painter Beauford Delaney, the “spiritual father” and artistic mentor Baldwin found in Greenwich Village. In post-war Paris, we meet Lucien Happersberger, the Swiss émigré who would become Baldwin’s lover, muse, and lifelong friend. We meet Engin Cezzar, the “blood brother” who created for Baldwin a home in Istanbul. Finally, Boggs introduces us to Yoran Cazac, the French painter with whom Baldwin collaborated on his “child’s story for adults,” Little Man, Little Man, which Boggs helped bring back into print. Along the way, Boggs and Hohn dwell on the meaning of love in Baldwin’s life and work, and on his yearning for a home “by the side of the mountain, on the edge of the sea.” Hohn and Boggs also spend time with Otto Friedrich, who befriended Baldwin during his Paris years and would become Lewis Lapham’s editor and mentor. The episode concludes with a selection of entries about Baldwin from the journal Friedrich kept in 1949

Join writer and biographer James Marcus, known for his insightful work on Ralph Waldo Emerson, as he explores the dynamic relationship between Emerson and Melville. The discussion unveils the contrasting literary styles of these titans and delves into Emerson's multifaceted identity, echoing his transcendentalist beliefs. Marcus highlights the importance of reevaluating timeless quotes, while also exposing the philosophical tensions in Melville's characters. The conversation culminates in an examination of individualism versus community, showcasing Emerson's evolving understanding of interconnectedness.

Matthew Hollis, a poet and translator of The Seafarer, shares insights on this poignant 10th-century Anglo-Saxon poem. He discusses the emotional turmoil of isolation at sea and the timeless themes of belonging and moral choices, resonating deeply with modern audiences. The conversation explores the poem’s improbable survival and its rich soundscape, enhanced by multimedia elements. Hollis also reflects on the challenges of translating ancient poetry while preserving its musicality and depth, emphasizing the cultural significance of the sea in Anglo-Saxon society.

Francine Prose, the editor-at-large of The Quarterly and acclaimed author, dives deep into Melville's Moby Dick, particularly its iconic first chapter, 'Loomings.' She passionately argues why 'Call me Ishmael' is a masterclass in narrative authority. Prose and host Donovan Hohn explore Ishmael’s complex character, the influence of American sermons on Melville's style, and the themes of solitude, freedom, and friendship illustrated through nautical imagery. Their riveting analysis reveals layers of meaning that resonate with both literary heritage and contemporary relevance.

Roger Berkowitz, a writer and academic director at the Hannah Arendt Center, takes a deep dive into the thoughts of Hannah Arendt and Henry David Thoreau on civil disobedience. He distinguishes between living under tyranny versus totalitarianism, emphasizing the necessity of political action for freedom. Their discussions illuminate the contrast between individual dissent and collective action. Berkowitz also reflects on Arendt's critical views of American politics and the role of citizen assemblies in promoting active democracy.

Join writers Wyatt Mason, Richard J. King, and Aaron Sachs as they dive deep into the layers of 'Moby Dick.' Wyatt reflects on the emotional connection readers have with the whale, while Richard discusses Ahab’s tumultuous relationship with the sea. Aaron analyzes Melville’s influence on modern literature and environmental narratives. The conversation touches on teaching Melville to incarcerated students, showcasing the novel’s timeless relevance. Explore the intricate blend of humor and seriousness in Melville’s work, making it resonate with contemporary challenges.