Shakespeare's "The Quality of Mercy" spe...

My old knee injury usually alerts me to changes in the weather, but in today’s poem Kooser offers a litany of other indicators. Happy reading. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substa ... Show More

Today’s poem is a tribute to the seasonal liftings-of-the-veil that reveal to us the beauty undergirding the world. Happy reading. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subsc ... Show More

In today’s poem: the dignity of old age, and Charles Dodgson as the Victorian Weird Al. Happy reading. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe 

Nearly four centuries after his death, no writer has come close to matching Shakespeare’s understanding of the world – or his gift for dramatic poetry. It’s not just kings and queens that he captured so uniquely in his transcendent verse. Shakespeare analysed the human condition, ... Show More

In this episode I talk to my parents about the topic of William Shakespeare. We discuss the enduring appeal and significance of William Shakespeare's work, biographical details of his life, the key themes in Shakespeare’s plays, and the impact of his language on modern English. W ... Show More

The Rape of Lucrece by William Shakespeare audiobook. Immerse yourself in Shakespeare’s fiercely lyrical and haunting narrative poem The Rape of Lucrece, now brought to life in a spellbinding audiobook performance that transforms every iambic beat into living drama: feel the slow ... Show More

Today’s poem is Sonnet 130 by William Shakespeare. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. It’s fall, and that means “back-to-school”. We put together this week’s episodes for the educators in our audience — especially those of you who may be looking for a little Slowdown treat ... Show More

It is a truth universally acknowledged that tragedy is one of the world's highest art forms, and that Shakespeare was one of the form's greatest practitioners. But how did he do it? What models did he have to draw upon, and where did he innovate? In this episode, Jacke talks to S ... Show More

‘Goblin Market’ was the title poem of Christina Rossetti’s first collection, published in 1862, and while she disclaimed any allegorical purpose in it, modern readers have found it hard to resist political interpretations. The poem’s most obvious preoccupation seems to be the Vic ... Show More

Loves Labours Lost by William Shakespeare audiobook. Imagine the thrill of being swept into a sun-drenched court where four earnest noblemen swear off love just as three spirited ladies arrive to turn their resolve inside out—now picture every witty riposte, every swoon of unspok ... Show More

The London Prodigal by William Shakespeare audiobook. Step into the riotous, shadowy streets of Jacobean London with The London Prodigal, a long-lost gem of Shakespearean drama now brought thrillingly to life in audiobook form—where every whispered intrigue, every thunderous accu ... Show More

In our final bonus episode from The Penguin Podcast, bestselling author Jodi Picoult shares her theory on the true author behind Shakespeare's plays that inspired her new novel, By Any Other Name.Explore the full list of the books discussed in this bonus episode and read the tran ... Show More

Today’s poem is Mercy, Mercy Me by Olatunde Osinaike. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. We’re taking a break this week, so we’re sharing some of our favorite episodes from the archive. This episode was originally released on April 16, 2024. In this episode, Major writes… ... Show More