The World in Time / Lapham’s Quarterly

Kira Brunner Don, former executive editor of Lapham’s Quarterly and current editor of Stranger’s Guide, shares her insights on the power of storytelling, especially the importance of local voices in journalism. Nathan Brown, a Concordia University professor and translator of Baudelaire, delves into the complexities of translating poetry and the historical significance of his recently translated poem, "Introspection." Both guests explore the intersection of art and journalism, reflecting on the challenges and nuances of storytelling during conflict.

In this captivating discussion, Francine Prose, author of 22 novels including *1974: A Personal History*, dives into her nostalgic memories of Nixon-era San Francisco. She reflects on vibrant communal living and the pre-tech spirit of the city, contrasting it with the current landscape. Prose shares her idealistic youth, from protesting the Vietnam War to her husband’s audacious climb of the Pentagon. She also explores the eerie parallels between her experiences and themes in Hitchcock's *Vertigo*, weaving a narrative rich in cultural and personal transformation.

In this engaging discussion, guests Ben Metcalf, a former literary editor at Harper’s and author, Emily Allen-Hornblower, a historian from Rutgers, and Sandy Gotham Meehan, a seasoned producer and board member of the American Agora Foundation, pay tribute to the late Lewis H. Lapham. They delve into the vital connection between history and literature, share personal anecdotes about Lapham’s mentorship, and reflect on the absurdities of social etiquette during funerals. The episode also features literary readings that highlight the enduring power of words and art.

“I’m an essayist, not a podcaster,” says Lapham’s Quarterly acting editor Donovan Hohn, “but then the same could be said of Lewis, who took the form and the medium of the podcast and did with it what he’d done all of his adulthood: have conversations with people whose voices he wished to hear. Seasoned listeners to The World in Time may rest assured that similar conversations will resume shortly. This episode, my first behind the microphone, won’t be a conversation, but it will be a duet. I’ll be sharing the microphone some with Lewis Lapham.” This week on the podcast Donovan Hohn hosts two episodes devoted to the life, career, and memory of our founding editor, Lewis H. Lapham. In this first episode, Hohn announces the Quarterly’s plans for Summer 2025, shares excerpts from a keynote address Lapham delivered at Bard College’s Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities in 2011, pays tribute to Lapham the essayist, and gives an account of the months preceding and following Lewis’ death in July 2024.

Journalist Robert D. Kaplan discusses tragic thinking, Greek perspective, misconceptions about democracy, the complexity of the world, and learning from literature in a thought-provoking conversation with Lewis H. Lapham.

Elizabeth Winkler, a journalist and critic, discusses her book “Shakespeare Was a Woman and Other Heresies,” which tackles the contentious Shakespeare authorship question. She delves into the fierce reactions it prompts within literary circles and examines the debate over whether Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, might be the true author. Winkler also highlights the complexities of society's views on playwriting in the 16th century and the intriguing connections between authorship, gender dynamics, and the emotional stakes surrounding Shakespeare's legacy.

“When you start looking at deeper, more accurate history,” writer Jared Yates Sexton says in this episode of The World in Time, “you start to realize that a lot of what we have learned through conventional history—and this is in public education, best sellers, documentaries, and television shows—a lot of the history that we have gotten is actually mythology. Take a look at the American Revolution. One of the things that you have been taught for all this time is that it was some sort of spontaneous passion of liberty and freedom in which all Americans turned against Great Britain. And, of course, this is not true.” This week on the podcast, Lewis H. Lapham speaks with Jared Yates Sexton, author of “The Midnight Kingdom: A History of Power, Paranoia, and the Coming Crisis.”

Ben Jealous, Executive Director of the Sierra Club and former NAACP president, shares insights from his book, *Never Forget Our People Were Always Free*. He reflects on his childhood experiences that shaped his activism and the importance of heritage in today's civil rights movements. Interesting stories of unexpected family connections surface at a Renaissance gathering, emphasizing reconciliation and identity. Jealous also discusses the intersection of race, mass incarceration, and the necessity for cross-political coalitions to address systemic injustices.

“I think the mood in 1860 would have a haunting familiarity to people today,” Edward Achorn says at the start of this episode of The World in Time, discussing the setting of “The Lincoln Miracle: Inside the Republican Convention That Changed History.” “The politics in the country seemed to have broken down. People were talking at each other. They were no longer listening to each other. They were increasingly using violence or looking toward violence as a way to settle their differences. So the whole political system was breaking down…There was a long, protracted fight over the selection of a House speaker, which is normally a pretty much rote action. There was a view…that Washington had become this festering swamp full of elites who didn’t have any sort of connection with common people in America.” And it was in this moment that Abraham Lincoln, a relatively unknown figure, became a presidential candidate. This week on the podcast, Lewis H. Lapham speaks with Ed Achorn, author of “The Lincoln Miracle: Inside the Republican Convention That Changed History.” Thanks to our generous donors. Lead support for this podcast has been provided by Elizabeth “Lisette” Prince. Additional support was provided by James J. “Jimmy” Coleman Jr.

Join historian Stacy Schiff, acclaimed author of "The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams," as she delves into the multifaceted life of this divisive figure. Schiff highlights Adams' bravery and ability to inspire change during tumultuous times. She draws parallels between the revolutionary fervor of the past and modern issues like misinformation and civic engagement. The discussion covers the Boston Tea Party's pivotal role, political rivalry with John Hancock, and Adams’ enduring legacy as a champion of individual agency in shaping public opinion.