Person
Every book Stephen Fry recommended on podcasts
Across 2 podcasts. Every show Stephen Fry appears on, in one place — not just one.
Stephen Fry’s most recommended books
- Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
- Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh
- Enemies of promise and other essays by Cyril Connolly
- On Writing by Stephen King
- The Greek myths by Robert Graves
- Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes
- Complete Works of Oscar Wilde by Oscar Wilde
- Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde
- The Golden Bough by James George Frazer
- The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Stephen Fry discussed a variety of literary works across his podcast appearances, reflecting on books that shaped his understanding of myth, literature, and culture. When appearing on The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, Stephen Fry brought up Julian Barnes's book Flaubert's Parrot to illustrate a literary point concerning religious devotion and simplicity. During his visit to The Book Review podcast, Fry shared several memories and reflections related to the works of Oscar Wilde. He recounted borrowing the plays of Oscar Wilde from a mobile library as a young boy, reading comedies such as Lady Windermere's Fan, and eventually moving on to examine the complete works. Furthermore, he recalled discovering and checking out The Trials of Oscar Wilde by Michael S. Foldy from the library, and mentioned discovering Oscar Wilde after his mother identified a television play he had watched as The Importance of Being Earnest. Fry also discussed the satirical novels of Evelyn Waugh during the interview, specifically praising Brideshead Revisited and Decline and Fall as notable works of fiction.
Books recommended by Stephen Fry
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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 an acclaimed satirical novel known for its biting wit and mastery of prose.
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
Stephen King's On Writing is a celebrated hybrid of memoir and practical manual that chronicles the author's formative struggles and recovery while offering direct, invaluable advice for aspiring writers on craft, discipline, and the mechanics of prose.
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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Flaubert's Parrot
Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes is a critically acclaimed novel that blends literary biography, fiction, and postmodern experimentation as a retired doctor attempts to uncover the truth about the life of French novelist Gustave Flaubert.
Recommended“and and this is where the parrot comes from that julian barnes wrote about so brilliantly in flaubert's parrot”
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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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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Mythos
Mythos by Stephen Fry is a popular retelling of classical Greek myths that breathes new life into ancient stories of gods and mortals.
Discussed“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 I I was about halfway through it when I suddenly heard”
Where to get it
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The Golden Bough
The Golden Bough by James George Frazer is a seminal 1890 anthropological and comparative religion study that explores ancient folklore, myths, and rituals of sacrificed kings.
Discussed“so i i can understand why a 19th century figure like frasier or you know in the golden bow or or or like mary mccarthy or young”
Where to get it
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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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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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The trials of Oscar Wilde
Discussed“I saw a book called The Trials of Oscar wild I said oh I'll take that she said well I think you might be a bit young for that”
Where to get it
Books Stephen Fry wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Fry on Reimagining the Greek Myths | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 10 |
| Jennifer Egan and the Goon Squad | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 7 |
| 169. An Atheist in the Realm of Myth | Stephen Fry | The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast | 2021-05-17 | 2 |
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
“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”
“and i love for example the story i i tell it in a footnote in mythos but it's very very early on in greek mythology”
“some years ago he he was a great lover of the tibetan book of the dead and gilbran and people like that”