Musician and author John Darnielle joins us to discuss A House and Its Head by Ivy Compton-Burnett, a wickedly funny novel first published in 1935. We talk about how Compton-Burnett's family background did or did not shape her style, explore the influence of Greek drama on her approach to narrative, and try to understand why we find her characters' conversations about horrific acts so hilarious. Pre-order the new Mountain Goats album and check our their tour dates here. References:The Life of Ivy Compton-Burnett by Hilary SpurlingThe Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor DostoevskyMikhail BulgakovJack KerouacFrancine ProseDevil HouseImmanuel KantJacques DerridaJoan DidionPropagandhiRobert E. HowardWolf in White VanUniversal HarvesterMinotaur by Benjamin TammuzEuropa EditionsRobert LiddellElizabeth TaylorJane AustenCharlotte BrontëJ. D. SalingerCharles DickensYasujiro OzuSeinfeldMichael Fengler and Rainer Werner Fassbinder's Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?On the Origin of the Species by Charles DarwinAnna Karenina by Leo TolstoyThe French Lieutenant's Woman by John FowlesMedea by EuripidesOedipus Rex by SophoclesSeven Against Thebes by AeschylusGeoffrey ChaucerA Compton-Burnett Compendium by Violet PowellAnthony PowellMary Olivier: A Life by May SinclairThomas Hardy"Notes on Camp" by Susan SontagJohn Waters' PolyesterEdward AlbeeJ. M. SyngeMother and SonVirago Modern ClassicsMore Women Than MenOscar Wilde Find us on Twitter or Instagram, and click here to view our most up-to-date episode schedule.