Episode · The Book Review · 2024-07-18
Books mentioned on Stephen Fry on Reimagining the Greek Myths
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde is a classic comedic play celebrated for its brilliant wit, biting social satire, and timeless epigrams.
Discussed“and when she eventually unpicked my breathless gushing about this uh thing she said oh that was The Importance of Being Earnest”
Where to get it
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The plays of Oscar Wilde
Discussed“I said do you have anything by Oscar wild and she said oh yes we've got the plays of Oscar wild”
Where to get it
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Lady Windermere's Fan
Discussed“and I read the the four great comedies you know woman of no importance and Lady wind's fan”
Where to get it
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Complete Works of Oscar Wilde
Discussed“and then I got the complete works and I I read such of those as I could understand”
Where to get it
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The trials of Oscar Wilde
Discussed“I saw a book called The Trials of Oscar wild I said oh take that”
Where to get it
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Brideshead Revisited
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh is a classic British novel exploring nostalgia, memory, faith, and the aristocratic machinations of the English upper class during the interwar period.
Discussed“and EVN War the prsh novelist a male eelin he wrote Brides head Revisited and Decline and fall”
Where to get it
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Decline and Fall
Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh is a sharp, witty satirical novel that mercilessly lampoons British public school systems, high society, and institutional hypocrisy during the interwar period.
Discussed“he wrote Brides head Revisited and Decline and fall and many extraordinary satirical novels”
Where to get it
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Enemies of promise and other essays
Enemies of Promise and other essays by Cyril Connolly is a classic critical work examining the various traps, distractions, and psychological perils that threaten literary ambition and prose style.
Discussed“sir Connelly who was a great critic founded Horizon magazine and he was a friend of all the writers... he wrote a book called the enemies of Promise”
Where to get it
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On Writing
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King is part memoir and part practical guide detailing Stephen King's journey as an author alongside valuable advice for aspiring writers.
Discussed“and and Stephen King wrote a book didn't he about his style guide as it were yes on writing”
Where to get it
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The Greek myths
The Greek Myths by Robert Graves is a comprehensive and hugely influential two-volume compilation and interpretation of classical mythology that has shaped numerous writers and scholars.
Discussed“apart from Robert Graves who was hugely influential who wrote a magnificent two volume edition of the Greek myths”
Where to get it
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Mythos
Mythos by Stephen Fry is a vibrant and accessible retelling of classical Greek creation stories, exploring the gods, titans, and origins of the universe through a comedic and modern lens.
Recommended“until then I urge our listeners to listen to step fry tell the stories of Heroes but also to pick up the book and Mythos”
Where to get it
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Heroes
Heroes by Stephen Fry is an engaging and witty retelling of classical Greek myths focusing on the daring exploits, flaws, and adventures of legendary mortals and demigods.
Recommended“urge our listeners to listen to step fry tell the stories of Heroes but also to pick up the book”
Where to get it
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The Warmth of Other Suns
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson is an epic, deeply researched work of narrative nonfiction that chronicles the historic decades-long Great Migration of Black citizens leaving the American South.
Discussed“right before George Floyd came into the news I had actually picked up the warmth of other Sons The Epic story of America's Great Migration”
Where to get it
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X
The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X is a towering pillar of American literature that chronicles a transformative journey from street life and imprisonment to becoming a powerful voice for civil rights and Black dignity.
Discussed“whether it's in a memoir like the autobiography of Malcolm X or coming of AG in the Mississippi or in a novel”
Where to get it
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American sonnets for my past and future assassin
American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin by Terrance Hayes is an inventive and politically charged poetry collection that addresses contemporary American life, race, and history through a series of formal sonnets.
Recommended“and one of the ones that I'm reading right now is a book that came out a couple of years ago called American sonnets for my past and future Assassin by Terrence Hayes”
Where to get it
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Days of Distraction
Discussed“it's called days of distraction by Alexander Chang it came out a couple months ago”
Where to get it
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The Vanishing Half
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is a compelling contemporary novel that examines family, racial identity, and the choices that shape our lives through the lives of twin sisters who choose to live in very different worlds.
Discussed“speaking to Britt Bennett about her recently published novel her second called The Vanishing half”
Where to get it
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Passing
Discussed“it brought me back to the the classic Nell Larson book called passing which has has been recently reissued”
Where to get it
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The Bluest Eye
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison is a powerful and haunting debut novel that examines the tragic experiences of a young Black girl growing up in post-depression America who desperately longs for blue eyes.
Discussed“as well as you know Echoes of Tony Morrison's The Bluest Eye and Tar baby and Sula”
Where to get it
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Tar Baby
Toni Morrison's novel Tar Baby received thoughtful reflection and recommendation across multiple episodes of The Book Review in July 2024.
Discussed“and Tar baby and Sula and and so much of her work”
Where to get it
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Sula
Sula by Toni Morrison is a powerful, lyrical novel that explores the complex dynamics of female friendship, community expectations, and identity within a small Ohio town across several decades.
Discussed“and Sula and and so much of her work”
Where to get it
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Mystery and manners
Discussed“I'm reading mystery and manners occasional Pros by fener o Conor”
Where to get it
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A bell for Adano
Discussed“she's talking about the John hery novel AEL for Adano which some people were protesting was too mature”
Where to get it
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Stories of Your Life and Others
Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang is an acclaimed collection of speculative short fiction exploring complex philosophical, linguistic, and scientific concepts.
Discussed“and I just read stories of your life and others by Ted Chen”
Where to get it
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Exhalation
Exhalation by Ted Chiang is a critically acclaimed collection of science fiction short stories exploring profound philosophical questions, memory, and technology.
Discussed“listeners of this podcast heard me rave many times about his later collection exhalation which was one of our 10 best books of 2019”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“in fact even we're going to come on to these books on Greek myths at one point but funny enough when I was writing the first one Mythos”