Literature and History
With millions of downloads, hundreds of hours of soundtracked content, and an overall emphasis on the cultural history behind famous works of literature, Literature and History is one of the most popular independent podcasts on its subject. Starting with Sumerian cuneiform in 3,100 BCE, Literature and History moves forward in chronological order through Assyriology, Egyptology, the Old Testament, Ancient Greece and Rome, the birth of Christianity, and the early Middle Ages. The show's current season is on early Islamic history.
A typical episode (they average about two hours) features a general introduction to a work of literature, then a full summary of that work that expects no prior knowledge, and finally, an analysis of the cultural, biographical, and historical forces that gave rise to the work in question. Original symphonic and ambient background music is woven throughout each show, and all episodes offer free full, illustrated, footnoted transcriptions as well as quizzes for purposes of review. The show has no advertisements, and its host takes pride in a professional approach that avoids chitchat and ephemera and gets straight to the educational content. You can listen to the episodes in any order, although most listeners begin at the beginning and proceed from there, as the podcast itself is chronologically organized.
Doug Metzger finished his Ph.D. in literature in 2011. His chief scholarly interest, following his dissertation work, continues to be 19th-century realism and postbellum American philosophy.
Latest episodes
39 snips
Mar 14, 2020 • 1h 51min
Episode 74: Marcus Aurelius (The Meditations)
Explore the philosophical depth of Marcus Aurelius's 'Meditations,' shedding light on Stoicism's teachings about personal growth through adversity. Discover how his insights into divine providence resonate with chaos in human existence. The podcast humorously navigates the complexities of his reign as he faces Rome's decline, notably through the controversial choice of his son, Commodus, as successor. Additionally, the interplay between Stoicism and emerging Christianity reveals a rich tapestry of beliefs shaping a critical era in history.
Feb 29, 2020 • 2h 35min
Episode 73: The Golden Ass (Apuleius' The Golden Ass)
Apuleius’ The Golden Ass is Ancient Rome’s only novel to survive in full – a strange, often disturbing fairytale that had a huge influence on posterity. Episode 73 Quiz https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-073/ Episode 73 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-073-the-golden-ass Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGKpv3xws8E Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@literatureandhistorypodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social X https://x.com/lahpodcast
Feb 14, 2020 • 1h 51min
Episode 72: Bread and Circuses (Juvenal's Satires)
Juvenal’s Satires, produced some time in the decades around 100 CE, mercilessly mock some of the more colorful aspects of Roman life. Episode 72 Quiz https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-072/ Episode 72 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-072-bread-and-circuses Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-4WYv5JIVU Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@literatureandhistorypodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social X https://x.com/lahpodcast
Jan 29, 2020 • 2h 17min
Episode 71: The Gods Depart (Statius' Thebaid)
Statius’ Thebaid, Books 7-12. Six hundred years after Aeschylus, Statius once again brought the Theban epic to a thunderous conclusion. Episode 71 Quiz https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-071/ Episode 71 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-071-the-gods-depart Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPrGgcJbnx8 Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@literatureandhistorypodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social X https://x.com/lahpodcast
Sep 9, 2019 • 1h 55min
Episode 70: Rome's Forgotten Epic (Statius' Thebaid)
Statius’ Thebaid, Books 1-6. This epic is hardly ever read or taught these days, but in 100 CE, it was as famous as anything in the Roman world. Episode 70 Quiz https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-070/ Episode 70 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-070-romes-forgotten-epic Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@literatureandhistorypodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social X https://x.com/lahpodcast
Aug 26, 2019 • 2h
Episode 69: Rome's Comic Novel (Petronius' Satyricon)
Petronius’ Satyricon is a contender for history’s first novel, a picaresque filled with sex, misadventures, and details about daily life. Episode 69 Quiz https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-069/ Episode 69 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-069-romes-comic-novel Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9Ud_Qzye5Y Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@literatureandhistorypodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social X https://x.com/lahpodcast
Aug 5, 2019 • 1h 35min
Episode 68: Love Means Sin (Seneca's Phaedra)
Seneca’s Phaedra (c 50s CE) is the story of an illicit passion, a stoic cautionary tale and simultaneously vivid character study. Episode 68 Quiz https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-068/ Episode 68 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-068-love-means-sin Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am-Ga9QV05g Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@literatureandhistorypodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social X https://x.com/lahpodcast
Jul 17, 2019 • 1h 13min
Episode 67: Jaws Dripping Blood (Seneca's Thyestes)
Seneca’s Thyestes, probably written around the 50s CE, is one of the most horrifying and influential plays ever written. Episode 67 Quiz https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-067/ Episode 67 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-067-jaws-dripping-blood Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFcrJGlJbHI Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@literatureandhistorypodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social X https://x.com/lahpodcast
Jun 26, 2019 • 1h 34min
Episode 66: Stoicism, Seneca, St. Paul
Stoicism, starting with Zeno in 300 BCE, was a popular philosophy by the lifetime of Seneca, perhaps even making its way into the New Testament. Episode 66 Quiz https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-066/ Episode 66 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-066-stoicism-seneca-st-paul Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Azc7u5st9jo Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@literatureandhistorypodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social X https://x.com/lahpodcast
Mar 30, 2019 • 2h 7min
Episode 65: Seneca and the Julio-Claudians (The Life of Seneca)
Seneca the Younger (c 1 BCE-65 CE) practiced the philosophy of stoicism over the course of several volatile, and very different imperial reigns. Episode 65 Quiz https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-065/ Episode 65 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-065-seneca-and-the-julio-claudians Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW4K7Ij-5fE Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@literatureandhistorypodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social X https://x.com/lahpodcast
