Writer and filmmaker Tariq Ali joins us to discuss Muhammad written by Maxime Rodinson and translated from French by Anne Carter. We talk about Rodinson's Marxist perspective, how the biography works as an "antidote" to far-right sentiment, and what it means to read it during a war in Gaza. Check out our Patreon here: patreon.com/user?u=84429384

In this enlightening conversation, we talk to scholar Dan Sinykin about his book Big Fiction, which details the rise of conglomeration in American publishing and its impact on the kind of fiction that gets written, released, and acclaimed. We were delighted to hear his insights into the founding of the New York Review of Books, Renata Adler and Elizabeth Hardwick's use of autofiction, and the current spate of literature in translation. To listen to the full episode, head over to our Patreon...

Poet Diane Mehta joins us to discuss Dante's Inferno translated by Ciaran Carson. We talk about our guest's ongoing Dante project, the multiple levels the text works on, and how, in the Florentine's view, the greatest sins stem from a lack of love. We recently launched a Patreon featuring two exclusive bonus episodes a month! Check out our three patron tiers (Minor Work, Instant Classic, and Magnus Opus) here. And be sure to grab Tiny Extravaganzas (we especially love "Shredder") and read...

Returning guest Michael Barron joins us to discuss Roberto Bolaño's "curio" published near the end of his life. We talk about Bolaño's universe, his unromantic youth, and why this is the only book that doesn't embarrass him. To hear the full episode, head over to our Patreon page and subscribe: patreon.com/user?u=84429384

In this taster for the Patreon, Dylan and Kassia compete to draft their four favorite books covered on the show thus far. If you're interested in more lighthearted episodes like this, please consider trying out a subscription here: patreon.com/user?u=84429384

Writer Esther Allen joins us to discuss her translation of Antonio di Benedetto's Zama, an Argentine existential novel originally published 1956. We discuss the intricacies of translation, the author's repudiation of the idea of a historical novel, and Lucrecia Martel's 2017 film adaptation of the story. Listeners unfamiliar with the plot may want to read the book (and watch the movie) before tuning in. References: Burton PikeThe Man Without Qualities by Robert MusilJorge Luis BorgesJulio...

Writer and editor Michael Barron joins us to share this short story collection from Julio Ramón Ribeyro. We discuss issues of class, the stereotyping of Latin American literature, and what it means to be "speechless." This book is one to be shared. Pass it on. Read more about our guest's work here. References:Alejandro ZambraGabriel García MárquezJorge Luis BorgesFranz KafkaJulio CortázarMario Vargas LlosaThe Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di LampedusaKatherine SilverCalvin and HobbesTár Find us...

Author James Kelman joins us to discuss James Hogg's The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, originally published in 1824. It tells the story of a staunch Calvininst who is lured into a killing spree by a mysterious, shapeshifting being. We discuss the novel's unusual structure, moral ambiguity, and mixture of genres. Kelman offers historical insight into the book's philospophy and places the work in a modern, international context. References:Andre GideFranz KafkaThe...

Writer and scholar Sheridan Hay joins us to discuss The Other House by Henry James. An unusual work for the author in that it contains his only murder, we analyze the novel's theatrical inspiration, bizarre tone, and gruesome climax. Please be wary as we wound up spoiling this one earlier than we normally do. Find us on Twitter or Instagram, and click here to view our most up-to-date episode schedule.

Writer and critic Patrick Preziosi joins us to discuss Cesare Pavese's The Moon and the Bonfires, translated from Italian by R. W. Flint. The story features a nameless narrator who returns to his native Italy from America in the wake of World War II. We talk about the ghosts of the past, the cyclical nature of violence, and the innate desire to find one's home. Be sure to follow Patrick on Twitter here. References:Jean-Marie Straub and Daniele HuilletNatalia GinzburgFamily LexiconA Private...

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...

Washington Post books editor John Williams joins us to discuss... John Williams' Butcher's Crossing, orginally published in 1960. The story, set in the 1870s, follows a Harvard dropout as he attempts to find a truer version of himself in the West. We talk about the book's challenge to Emersonian transcendentalism, American rapaciousness, and Western archetypes. (And worry not, we don't play the theme to Star Wars.) References:StonerWilliam MaxwellHenry JamesJean-Patrick ManchetteEve...

Writer and poet Vivek Narayanan joins us to discuss L. P. Hartley's The Go-Between. We talk about how Hartley, in this novel about a schoolboy's loss of innocence at the turn of the 20th century, explores childhood guilt and dramatizes the act of memory. Follow Vivek on Twitter, and find out more about his work here. References:Ali SmithValmikiVirginia WoolfThe BoatEustace and HildaSpeak, Memory by Vladimir NabokovFredoon KabrajiLagaanThe AshesThe Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton Find us...

Kim McNeill joins us to dicuss Thus Were Their Faces, a collection of short stories written by Silvina Ocampo and translated from Spanish by Daniel Balderston. We explore Ocampo's various renditions of cruelty, trace themes and motifs across her career, and use the F-word (feminism). Follow along with Kim's splendid #NYRBWomen23 project here. References:The Levant Trilogy by Olivia ManningThe Tale of GenjiPilgrimage by Dorothy RichardsonA Chill in the Air by Iris OrigoMore Was Lost by Eleanor...

Writer Valerie Stivers joins us to discuss Elizabeth David's Summer Cooking. Originally published in 1955, this cookbook celebrates the fleeting freshness and enduring joy of the summer season. We seek the origins of David's refreshing approach to cooking, ponder the uses of food photography, and learn how Valerie's David-inspired menu came together. Find all of our guest's Paris Review columns here, and read her reviews for Compact Magazine here. References:Nikolai GogolRichard...

NYRB publicist Nick During joins us to discuss Akenfield: Portrait of an English Village by Ronald Blythe, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 100. We talk about the tricky business of categorization, the tension between work and vocation, and the nature of agricultural society.  Massive thank you to John Hoekstra, who composed our theme music. References: BookCourt  Edwin Frank Word from Wormingford  The View in Winter  John Piper  Shell Guides  John Nash Cedric...

Writer Chris Lee joins us to discuss An African in Greenland written by Tété-Michel Kpomassie and translated from French by James Kirkup. The book follows a young man's dream to reach the Arctic. We investigate some tropes of travel literature, find surprising links between Togolese and Greenlandic culture, and thirst for some reindeer coffee. References:"A Year of Reading the World" by Ann MorganLynn DavisTennessee Williams BBC InterviewJupiter's Travels by Ted SimonThe NYRB Classics Book...

Librarian, author, and critic Nancy Pearl joins us to discuss May Sinclair's Mary Olivier: A Life, originally published in 1919. We talk controlling mothers, Victorian roles, and the mysterious passage of time. Listeners unfamiliar with the plot may want to read the book before tuning in. References:Virago Modern ClassicsThe Little ReviewUlysses by James JoyceTold by an Idiot by Rose MacaulayJane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëThe Mill on the Floss by George EliotPride and Prejudice by Jane...

Edwin Frank, editorial director of the NYRB Classics, joins us to discuss the evolution of the series. We learn how the books are selected, how the project has grown, and whether or not there was a secret plan all along. Endless thanks to John Hoekstra, who composed our theme music. References:The Iliad and the Odyssey adapted by Jane Werner Watson and illustrated by Alice & Martin ProvensenThe Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. TolkienThe HobbitThe Reader's CatalogJ. R. AckerleyAlberto...

Historian Antony Beevor joins us to discuss Stalingrad written by Vasily Grossman and translated from Russian by Robert and Elizabeth Chandler. We talk about Grossman's observational powers, the boundaries between history and literature, and the context surrounding the book's narrative. Listeners unfamiliar with the plot may want to wait until they've read the book to tune in. Read more about our guest's work here. References:A Writer at WarLuba VinogradovaChristopher MacLehoseAndrew...

Film critic Farran Smith Nehme joins us to discuss In a Lonely Place written by Dorothy B. Hughes and adapted into a movie by Nicholas Ray. We talk about the book's unique approach to suspense, the film's relocation of the characters from the margins of Hollywood to the center, and some of our guest's favorite noirs. Listeners unfamiliar with the plot may want to wait until they've read the book (and watched the movie) to tune in. Check out Farran's Sight and Sound list here. As promised, you...

Scholar José Vergara joins the show to talk about A School for Fools written by Sasha Sokolov and translated from Russian by Alexander Boguslawski. Enroll in a fabulous world where the dead are alive, language changes forms, minds split, and love flowers. Read our guest's article on A School for Fools here and more about his work here. References:All Future Plunges to the PastJames JoyceJ. D. SalingerBetween Dog and WolfAstrophobiaMartina NapolitanoStalingrad by Vasily GrossmanVasily...

Writer Ana Gavrilovska joins us to talk about Turtle Diary written by Russell Hoban. We discuss middle age, loneliness, romance, Godlessness, and, of course, the symbolic resonance of turtles. References:NinotchkaPagliacciStill Life with Woodpecker by Tom RobbinsI Heart HuckabeesThe SwimmerKing Kong To purchase books covered on the show, please visit our digital bookshop at https://bookshop.org/shop/unburiedbooks. Buying them here helps to support the podcast.

Critic and journalist Adam Morgan joins us to talk about In the Cafe of Lost Youth written by Patrick Modiano and translated by Chris Clarke. We discuss the title's double meaning, recall the joys and sorrows of our own nocturnal wanderings, and nominate this book for sexiest NYRB Classic of all time. Also, we owe a massive thank you to John Hoekstra for composing our new theme music. Read more about Adam Morgan's work here: https://adam-stephen-morgan.com/ References:When Harry Met...

Dylan and Kassia unpack Stefan Zweig's Chess Story translated from German by Joel Rotenberg. They toy with some chess pieces, discuss the psychological effects of fascism, and heap praise on this thrilling novella. References:The Life and Death of Colonel BlimpMilgram experimentHow the Scots Invented the Modern World: The True Story of How Western Europe's Poorest Nation Created Our World and Everything in It by Arthur HermanMarquis de WavrinOne Way PassageHistory Is Made at NightLet Them All...