Person
Every book Ruth Franklin recommended on podcasts
Ruth Franklin appears on literary podcasts as an insightful scholar and critic, offering deep dives into the life and enduring works of renowned author Shirley Jackson. During her discussions, Franklin explored a range of Jackson's literary output, spanning both her humorous domestic memoirs and her darker, genre-defining fiction. She introduced listeners to Jackson's 1953 domestic chronicle Life Among the Savages and its 1957 follow-up Raising Demons, highlighting specific humorous passages and family anecdotes contained within the pages. Expanding beyond Jackson's most famous works, Franklin also shed light on lesser-discussed projects, mentioning her children's book The Witchcraft of Salem Village and detailing how Jackson carefully researched and wrote it using the authentic style of seventeenth-century witchcraft chronicles she had collected. Furthermore, Franklin placed Jackson's career in historical context by referencing the striking and rapid publication timing of her iconic, chilling short story 'The Lottery,' which appeared just less than a month before subsequent milestones. Through these podcast discussions, Franklin paints a comprehensive portrait of Jackson's versatility as a writer capable of capturing both domestic comedy and terrifying darkness.
Books recommended by Ruth Franklin
-
Life among the savages
Discussed“so the first book is um life among the Savages which came out in 1953”
Where to get it
-
-
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson's chilling short story depicts a seemingly idyllic small town that annually conducts a brutal ritualistic stoning, exposing the dark side of blind tradition and conformity.
Discussed“amazingly just less than a month after the lottery was published”
Where to get it
-
The witchcraft of Salem Village
Discussed“it's written in the style of the 17th century witchcraft Chronicles uh which she collected and read and then wrote about in a children's book called the Witchcraft of Salem Village”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside The New York Times Book Review: ‘A God in Ruins’ | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 5 |