Close Reads Podcast

Welcome back to our ongoing conversation about Mark Twain’s classic novel. This week we discuss faux Dukes and Dauphins, satire and allegory, local conflicts and civil wars, and much more, including the protean nature of the book. Happy listening!


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to our series on Mark Twain’s most essential novel. This week we discuss:
* The development of Huck Finn’s conscience
* Jim’s character development
* The river as a symbol of journey and uncertainty
* The expurgated passage
* Twain’s homage to the Odyssey
* Jim’s humanization and moral integrity
* Twain’s technique of withholding information
* The significance of the Mississippi River as a unifying setting
* and more
Happy reading!


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

In this second tribute episode to Wendell Berry, Martin Cothran and Alan Cornett join the show to share what it was like to know Berry the man, not just the great literary figure.


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

One of our literary heroes, the great Wendell Berry, died this week at the age of 92 and we’re here to pay tribute. In this episode, we consider his influence on literature, agriculture, and culture, plus share some personal stories, favorite passages, and insights into what makes Berry a timeless writer and thinker. Thanks for tuning in. We’d love to hear what Berry meant to you!


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to our new series on Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn! This we’re discussing its literary significance, controversial language, and the themes of race, trauma, and storytelling.
Key Topics
* The significance of the Mississippi River in American culture and literature
* The role of race and language
* The challenges of teaching and interpreting Huck Finn in modern education
* Twain’s use of dialect and vernacular language as literary devices
* The debate over expurgated editions and the importance of confronting uncomfortable truths
* The influence of Shakespeare and other literary traditions on Twain’s work
* The opening narrative and its role in framing the story


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe