Secret Life of Books
Sophie Gee and Jonty ClaypoleEvery book has two stories: the one it tells, and the one it hides.The Secret Life of Books is a fascinating, addictive, often shocking, occasionally hilarious weekly podcast starring Sophie Gee, an English professor at Princeton University, and Jonty Claypole, formerly director of arts at the BBC. Every week these virtuoso critics and close friends take an iconic book and reveal the hidden story ... more
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 121 | Founded | a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksEducationArts | |||
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Latest Episodes
Are you a cat-person or a tyger-person? William Blake was both. Find out why such a big fuss about "The Tyger," which never fails to show up in google searches for the best poem in English.
"The Tyger" has a lot going for it: short, punchy, mystica... more
Stephen King and Shirley Jackson agree that The Turn of the Screw is the GOAT of ghost-stories. It’s a gripping, excellently creepy potboiler about a mad governess and a pair of haunted children in a scary Victorian country house.
Henry James alread... more
One of the world's favorite novelists, on his own favorite novelist. Colm Toibin has written many beloved novels, for which he has won many prestigious prizes. The novels include Brooklyn and Long Island; The Magician and The Master. This last is Col... more
Many readers consider The Portrait of a Lady to be the greatest novel in English. But for some reason, James' fellow novelists loved to dump on him. Nabokov called him a "pale porpoise," and said his books were strictly for "non-smokers." Virginia Wo... more
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Reviews
- Brilliant!
I LOVE this podcast. The hosts are insightful, reflective, witty, and funny. They’re also honest - they don’t think every classic is awesome so you can trust when they say it’s a great read. But the very best thing about this podcast if the rapport between Sophie and Jonty! I do love books, but I’d happily listen to the two them talk about the weather!
Apple Podcasts5BookishBiddy
United States16 days ago - The lecturer who was really good and funny
Love this podcast. It’s like taking English Lit at uni with lecturers who were really funny and interesting (and no essays!).
Always found Northanger Abbey really boring, now I’m re reading it with so much insight. Told all my friends and sent them all the Jane Austen ones.
Please do ‘the Blind Assassin’ by Margaret Atwood- possibly the best and most thought provoking book from the 20th C I’ve ever read.
I read Adrian Mome as a teen, enjoyed it, but totally missed the overall message The ep o... more
Apple Podcasts5PJusith
Australia22 days ago - Wonderfully funny
An absolute delight!
Apple Podcasts5Soonjay
Switzerlanda month ago - SLOB
A wonderful discussion about classic books - interpreted broadly. Together and separately, the minds of Sophie and Jonty rub up against each other and produce such interesting thoughts, without cliches or received wisdom. The poetry series is inspired.
Apple Podcasts5GetpruningAustraliaa month ago - Fave podcast!
I just love this podcast, and the hosts… I’ve been inspired to reread old favourites with new insight and read books I didn’t know before. I especially appreciated the recent series on sonnets - I would never have developed such understanding on my own. Enjoying the currrent American horror series - please do more N American literature, I would love you to cover Richard Ford and Marilynne Robinson, Henry James too!
Apple Podcasts5Storyville38
United Kingdoma month ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #161 | United States/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #32 | United Kingdom/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #33 |  Canada/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #95 | Canada/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #96 | United Kingdom/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #6 | Australia/Arts/Books |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Secret Life of Books
What is Secret Life of Books about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A captivating exploration of literature, this podcast examines both the overt narratives and the hidden complexities within classic and contemporary books. Each episode features in-depth discussions with notable authors and scholars, blending storytelling with literary analysis to uncover the motivations, cultural contexts, and societal implications woven into beloved texts. The hosts encourage listeners to re-examine their understanding of literature, addressing themes of identity, power dynamics, and the personal connections between readers and writers. By highlighting often-overlooked details and offering varied perspectives, the show revives classic literature while drawing connections to contemporary issues. Unique in its mix of humor ... more
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How many listeners does Secret Life of Books get?
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How many subscribers and views does Secret Life of Books have?
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Which podcasts are similar to Secret Life of Books?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Secret Life of Books:
1. The Book Show
2. The Bookshelf
3. Jane Austen's Paper Trail
4. Backlisted
5. Chat 10 Looks 3
How many episodes of Secret Life of Books are there?
Secret Life of Books launched a year ago and published 121 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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What guests have appeared on Secret Life of Books?
Recent guests on Secret Life of Books include:
1. Colm Tóibín
2. Rowan Tomlinson
3. Hermione Lee
4. Alexandra Harris
5. Alexandra Schwartz
6. Kate Grenville
7. Professor Dominic Rowe
8. Jill Lepore
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