logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
1h 4m

575 A History of the Fool (with Peter An...

Jacke Wilson / The Podglomerate
About this episode

Shakespeare helped to make the Fool a common literary character. But what about the real-life fools who served in actual courts? Who were they and what kind of lives did they lead? In this episode, Jacke talks to author Peter K. Andersson about his book Fool: In Search of Henry VIII's Closest Man, which tells the story of Will Somer, an unusual man with a very strange job. PLUS Milton expert Ed Simon (Heaven, Hell, and Paradise Lost) selects his choice for the last book he will ever read.

Help support the show at patreon.com/literature or historyofliterature.com/donate. The History of Literature Podcast is a member of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate Network. Learn more at www.thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
739 Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (#14 GBOAT) | Johannes Gutenberg (with Eric Marshall White)
Thanks to his invention of Europe's first typographic printing method, and his pioneering work on the first printed Bible, the fifteenth-century German inventor Johannes Gutenberg has a fame and reputation that continues to this day. In 1997, Time magazine credited him with the m ... Show More
1h 34m
Oct 6
738 Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (#15 Greatest Book of All Time)
Emily Brontë only published one full-length book before dying at the tragically young age of 30. But that book, Wuthering Heights, which tells the story of obsessive and vengeful love on the rugged moors of Yorkshire, is still considered one of the pinnacles of English literature ... Show More
1h 16m
Oct 2
737 "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs
It's October! Jacke kicks off his favorite month with a classic tale of horror, "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs. Perhaps you know the general contours of the paradigmatic "be careful what you wish for" story from the Simpsons or another popularization - but just how scary was t ... Show More
42m 21s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2023
Great Reputations: Napoleon
In the latest in our series charting the contested reputations of key historical figures, Laura O’Brien and David Andress discuss the life and afterlife of Napoleon Bonaparte, and explore why his story – including his rise to power and his role as the driving force in the bloodsh ... Show More
1h 2m
Feb 2024
Significant Others: A Sneak Peek at the Woman Behind Benedict Arnold’s Betrayal
It’s been said that history is written by the person at the typewriter. But who did the person who made history depend on? Often, it’s impossible to find out. But once in a while, we get lucky, and the story was not only recorded, it’s really good.Well that’s what this podcast is ... Show More
7m 21s
Aug 2023
Anne Boleyn part 1 for Tudor Week!
Who's that girl? It's Anne! Anne Boleyn is one of the most infamous figures in British history. Her short life is often defined by her marriage to King Henry VIII, her role in the English Reformation, and ultimately, her execution. However, in this episode (part of our Tudor Week ... Show More
58m 36s
Feb 2024
Who Really Was Boudica?
She's the warrior queen who took on the mighty Roman Empire, but who really was Boudica? Separating facts from the myths we've read can be tricky, but thankfully Kate is joined by the wonderful Emma Southon, author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women, to find out the tru ... Show More
41m 28s
Feb 2024
Liv Reads Quintus Smyrnaeus: The Fall of Troy (Book 2)
Liv reads Quintus Smyrnaeus' The Fall of Troy, translated by AS Way. In the only surviving source retelling the end of the Trojan War, Troy reels after the Amazon Penthesilea's death. Help keep LTAMB going by subscribing to Liv's Patreon for bonus content!This is not a standard n ... Show More
54m 57s
Dec 2023
The Amish: Origins and Society
Simple living, plain dress and pacifism. This is not a lifestyle typical of the United States. So how did the Amish come to be in America? Where did this religion come from? And how has their society changed with modernisation? In this episode, Don and Dr Joseph Donnermeyer journ ... Show More
39m 7s
Feb 2024
The Haunted Island by Edward Harold Visiak ~ Full Audiobook
The Haunted Island by Edward Harold Visiak audiobook. Prepare to be swept away into the eerie and enchanting world of Edward Harold Visiak's 'The Haunted Island,' a masterful blend of gothic horror and psychological intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat. As you del ... Show More
4h 29m
May 2023
La danza del cóndor y el águila: Etnografías y narrativas del 'despertar muisca'
En la vida, muchas veces adoptamos filosofías, expresiones e incluso comportamientos que no obedecen a nuestros contextos inmediatos; tal vez por mayor empatía con unas u otras, lo cual nos lleva a construir nuestras propias identidades. Otras veces nos quedamos con nuestros pasa ... Show More
59m 48s
Jun 2023
More Than You Ever Really Wanted to Know About Sewers (Encore)
Sometimes the most important things are things we don’t even want to think about let alone talk about. The issue of handling and removing human waste and dirty water is one such problem that has confronted humans since the dawn of time. The elimination of waste and excess water w ... Show More
11m 15s
Feb 2024
92. How To Implement Personalized Marketing Into Your Business
Have you ever wondered why Spotify Wrapped is so successful? What about the personalization of a company like Oura? There's a reason why we love to take Personality tests so much, and why personality testing is a $500 million industry, with an annual growth rate estimated at ... Show More
21m 43s