Podcasts by Ear Read This

“Ominous Whoosh”: John Thorne on Twin Peaks from 2023-10-31T10:18:52

S3E94 As a Halloween treat, Ash talks with the author of Ominous Whoosh: A Wandering Mind Returns to Twin Peaks, John Thorne. Tune in for a in-depth conversation about Twin Peaks with one of the...

“Plath’s Not a Phase”: Trish Grisafi on Breaking Down Plath from 2023-09-14T20:50:56

S3E93 Ash is again joined by Trish Grisafi to talk about her book Breaking Down Plath as well as Plath's relationship with feminism, the changing reputation of Plath and the "Plath phase".  Fol...

‘Stings’ (1962) by Sylvia Plath from 2023-09-08T23:44:44

S3E92 Ash is joined by Patricia Grisafi to discuss 'Stings' by Sylvia Plath, the third poem in her Bee Sequence. Tune in for a conversation about red comets, queen bees, and scapegoats. Follow ...

“I Felt Like I Was Cheating on Plath”: Peter K. Steinberg on the Writings of Assia Wevill from 2023-08-29T21:04:47

S3E91 On today's extended interview, Ash talks some more to Peter K. Steinberg, about his work as co-editor of the Collected Letters of Sylvia Plath and The Collected Writings of Assia Wevill. ...

‘The Swarm’ (1962) by Sylvia Plath from 2023-08-27T12:07:24

S3E90 Ash is joined again by Peter K. Steinberg to discuss Sylvia Plath's late poem 'The Swarm'. Tune in to hear about Plath's interest in Napoleon, her experiences bee-keeping and Peter's theor...

‘Electra on Azalea Path’ (1959) by Sylvia Plath from 2023-07-25T02:13:44

S3E89 Ash is joined by Peter K. Steinberg to discuss Sylvia Plath's fascinating poem, 'Electra on Azalea Path'. Tune in for a discussion about reckless psychoanalysis, bumblebees (and their ways...

“My Mother’s Legacy is Secure”: Kate Levey on Brigid Brophy from 2023-07-10T19:12:21

S3E88 Ash is joined again by Kate Levey to talk more about her mother, Brigid Brophy: her work outside of writing, her relationship with Iris Murdoch and her reputation today.  Follow Kate on T...

The Snow Ball (1964) by Brigid Brophy from 2023-07-09T10:27:31

S3E87 "Mozart, sex and death" is in store today, as Ash and his guest Kate Levey discuss her mother's brilliant 1964 novel, The Snow Ball.  Follow Kate on Twitter here: @brophylevey And visit h...

“Shakespeare’s Tutor”: Darren Freebury-Jones on The Influence of Thomas Kyd from 2023-05-05T12:40:08

S3E86 Following on from episodes on The Spanish Tragedy and The Birth of Merlin, Darren Freebury-Jones joins Ash once again, this time to talk about his own work on Thomas Kyd and early modern a...

The Birth of Merlin (1622) by William Rowley from 2023-05-04T01:27:50

S3E85 Ash is joined again by Shakespearean scholar, Darren Freebury-Jones to discuss a rarely-performed Jacobean play, The Birth of Merlin or The Child Hath Found its Father. Their conversation ...

The Spanish Tragedy (1587) by Thomas Kyd from 2023-02-07T22:50:55

S3E84 Ash is joined by Shakespearean scholar, Darren Freebury-Jones to discuss Thomas Kyd's hugely influential play, The Spanish Tragedy. As well as talking about Darren's specialist subject, th...

Now Westlin Winds (1785) by Robert Burns from 2023-01-26T00:34:58

S3E83 To celebrate Burns Night, Ash talks about Robert Burns' Now Westlin Winds, a song written at the very start of the Bard's career. Tune in for a discussion of the circumstances that inspire...

“A Festival that Focuses on Female Voices”: Sarah Corbett on Directing Plath Fest from 2022-12-05T20:26:36

S3E82 Ash is joined once again by poet Sarah Corbett to discuss her writing, both poetry and fiction, her vision for The Sylvia Plath Literary Festival and its accompanying anthology, After Sylv...

‘November Graveyard’ (1956) by Sylvia Plath from 2022-12-02T01:51:14

S3E81 Poet, novelist and Plath Fest Director Sarah Corbett joins Ash to discuss Plath's November Graveyard; a poem about death, resurrection and the Yorkshire countryside. 

Follow Sarah ...

“This Tender Substance”: Donnie Secreast on Plath’s Universal Element from 2022-06-26T12:48:36

S3E80 Donnie Secreast joins Ash again to talk more about Hardcastle Crags, environmental themes in Plath's work and her search for a 'universal element'.  Read Donnie's article here:  Listen

”It’s a Rigorous Demand”: Emily Van Duyne on Loving Sylvia Plath from 2022-05-21T08:57:10

S3E78 Emily Van Duyne returns to talk about her upcoming book, Loving Sylvia Plath, and further explore some of the biographical themes mentioned in yesterday's episode on 'The Jailor'. 

...

‘The Jailor’ (1962) by Sylvia Plath from 2022-05-20T09:14:16

S3E77 Emily Van Duyne is Ash's special guest for today's episode on Sylvia Plath's poem, The Jailor. A portrait of abuse, gas-lighting and 'inescapable femininity', the poem has recently been st...

Creation (8 AD) by Ovid (The Metamorphoses, Book 1) from 2022-05-02T10:05:04

S3E76 Today Ash discusses the first story in Ovid's Metamorphoses, in which we see the world created, and populated with its first inhabitants. 

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The Body Snatcher (1884) by Robert Louis Stevenson from 2022-04-30T10:47:17

S3E75 Today's exclusive episode takes us to home turf with this Edinburgh based story of resurrection men...

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Olalla (1885) by Robert Louis Stevenson from 2022-04-24T11:02:28

S3E74 Today I'm finally talking about Olalla! The crazy Spanish vampire story of Stevenson's that's come up on the podcast at least once before...

If you enjoy my work and would like to s...

The Little Sister (1949) by Raymond Chandler from 2022-04-17T13:51:41

S3E73 We've reached the fifth Marlowe adventure, The Little Sister. Tune in to hear about what critics call Chandler's "Hollywood novel", and what the author himself called "a gaudy piece of sar...

The Lady in the Lake (1943) by Raymond Chandler from 2022-04-11T21:32:29

S3E72 Ash discusses the fourth Marlowe novel, The Lady in the Lake. Tune in to hear about Arthurian references, Raymond Chandler's women, Marlowe's men and once again, fish.

If you enjoy ...

The High Window (1942) by Raymond Chandler from 2022-04-06T09:34:47

S3E71 In Philip Marlowe's third outing, he is on the trail of a missing Brasher Doubloon. Tracking down the coin, he unravels a dark family secret and a Beverly Hills murder. 

If you enjo...

Farewell, My Lovely (1940) by Raymond Chandler from 2022-03-30T20:35:36

S3E70 The second Philip Marlowe adventure features the unforgettable Moose Malloy, bent Bay City cops and a dame to kill for. 

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The Flood (8 AD) by Ovid (The Metamorphoses, Book 1) from 2022-03-23T15:14:53

S3E69 It's back to Book 1 of Ovid's Metamorphoses as Ash tells the story of a wrathful Jove, destroying mankind with a great flood. But what does Ovid's flood have in common with the flood found...

‘Full Fathom Five’ (1958) by Sylvia Plath from 2022-03-01T13:44:11

S3E68 Today, I'm analysing Sylvia Plath's poem Full Fathom Five, written in 1958 and eventually collected in her book The Colossus. Taking its title from Shakespeare's The Tempest, Full Fathom F...

“Reading Shakespeare Through the Lives of Others”: Paul Edmondson on the Shakespeare Circle from 2022-02-19T19:11:20

S3E67 Paul Edmondson joins Ash to talk about Shakespeare biography, re-evaluating the sonnets and recording a Shakespeare diary.  Listen to Open Your Shakespeares here: 

Find out more about Paul's work here:...

‘Address to the Deil’ (1786) by Robert Burns from 2022-02-01T08:23:27

S3E65 Ash analyses Robert Burns' comical kirk-tirlin poem, "Address to the Deil". 

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“It Felt Right to Reunite Them”: Emily Ingram on Writing Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley from 2021-11-06T20:44:22

S3E61 Today Ash is joined again by special guest Emily Ingram to discuss her play-in-progress, based on the life of Mary Shelley.  You can find out more about Emily's work and her theatre compa...

Frankenstein (1818) by Mary Shelley from 2021-11-04T11:26:24

S3E60 Join us for a dissection of Mary Shelley's iconic novel, Frankenstein, the tale of an ambitious young Swiss scientist, who in the course of penetrating the deepest mysteries of nature, cre...

“Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz”: Gail Crowther on Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton from 2021-10-30T01:02

S3E59 Joining Ash to talk about Sylvia Plath is Dr. Gail Crowther, whose latest book, Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz looks at the rebellions of Plath and her fellow poet, Anne Sexton. If y...

The Bell Jar (1963) by Sylvia Plath from 2021-10-28T08:08:53

S3E58 Today, Ash is joined by Dr. Gail Crowther to discuss Sylvia Plath’s iconic novel, The Bell Jar. Tune in for a conversation about the book’s strange publication history, the perils of readi...

“A Plath for all Seasons”: Eilish Mulholland on Reading Sylvia Plath from 2021-10-24T15:50:01

S3E57 Ash is once again joined by Eilish Mulholland of the Plath and Co. podcast, to talk about Sylvia Plath. In a wide-ranging conversation they discuss Plath and Hughes' use of the occult, pan...

‘A Birthday Present’ (1963) by Sylvia Plath from 2021-10-23T14:47:32

S3E56 Ash is joined by writer, researcher and fellow podcaster Eilish Mulholland to discuss Sylvia Plath's late poem, A Birthday Present.  In it, a woman is taunted by a mysterious veiled gift, ...

The Giants and Lycaon (8 AD) by Ovid (The Metamorphoses, Book 1) from 2021-08-16T11:19:54

S3E55 Gods, werewolves and giants abound as Ash takes a look at the story of Lycaon in Book 1 of Ovid's Metamorphoses. 

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“It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time”: Mark Walker on Translating the Hobbit into Latin from 2021-08-07T22:51:24

S3E52 Ash is joined once again by Mark Walker, who has written the first English verse translation of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Life of Merlin. Tune in for a conversation about the process of trans...

The Life of Merlin (1150) by Geoffrey of Monmouth from 2021-08-06T17:40:41

S3E51 On today's episode we return to Geoffrey of Monmouth, and look at his narrative poem, The Life of Merlin.  Joining Ash on the podcast is Mark Walker, who has written the first English tran...

“The Right Sound for Shakespeare Should Be Your Sound”: Ben Crystal on Original Pronunciation from 2021-07-31T21:57:32

S3E50 What did actors in Shakespeare's day sound like? To answer that question, Ash is once again joined by Ben Crystal, author of Shakespeare on Toast and expert in the field of original pronun...

Richard III (1592-93) by William Shakespeare from 2021-07-30T22:54:02

S3E49 We have finally arrived at the end of Shakespeare's History plays, with the riotous Richard III. Joining Ash to discuss the play is Ben Crystal, author of Shakespeare on Toast and speciali...

“The Last Days of Sylvia Plath”: Carl Rollyson on Biography from 2021-07-28T14:07:52

S3E48 Ash is once again joined by biographer Carl Rollyson to discuss his biographies of Sylvia Plath, and some of the challenges facing those who write about her. Find out more about Carl's wor...

The Life of Sylvia Plath (1932-1963) from 2021-07-27T20:00:18

S3E47 Ash is joined by biographer Carl Rollyson to discuss the life of one of the greatest twentieth century poets, Sylvia Plath. Find out more about Carl's work here:  Listen

"Mrs Jekyll and Cousin Hyde": Jeremy Hodges on Katharine de Mattos from 2021-06-30T14:46:24

S3E44 A fascinating conversation today that's a must-listen for all Stevenson enthusiasts. Ash talks more to Jeremy Hodges about Stevenson's time in Paris, the damaging influence of Victorian Ed...

The Black Arrow (1888) by Robert Louis Stevenson from 2021-06-29T17:48:24

S3E43 We're taking a break from Shakespeare but not from the Wars of the Roses. Today we look at another portrait of the civil war in Robert Louis Stevenson's The Black Arrow. 

Joining As...

Henry VI Part 3 (1591) by William Shakespeare from 2021-06-27T20:46:19

S3E42 In the final Part of Henry VI, we see England descend fully into chaos. Today we discuss violence, ill-blowing winds and the rise of one of Shakespeare's most famous villains. 

Join...

"I Took a Chainsaw To It": Owen Horsley on Editing Henry VI from 2021-05-14T19:49:16

S3E41 Today, Ash talks more to his special guest for the Henry VI episodes, Owen Horsley, about adapting Shakespeare, cutting Henry VI, and working for the RSC.

You can visit Owen's websi...

Henry VI Part 2 (1591) by William Shakespeare from 2021-05-13T23:34:08

S3E40 It's Part 2 of Henry VI and things are going from bad to worse for King and country. Tune in to hear about witchcraft, beheadings, royal adultery and the beginning of the Wars of the Roses...

"A Protagonist Vacuum": Hailey Bachrach on Adapting Henry VI from 2021-04-22T07:58:03

S3E39 Today, Ash talks more to his special guest for the Henry VI episodes, Hailey Bachrach, about adapting Shakespeare, diverse casting and the "protagonist vacuum" in Henry VI.

You can ...

Henry VI Part 1 (1592) by William Shakespeare from 2021-04-20T20:42:25

S3E38 Today, we begin an ambitious podcast trilogy on Shakespeare's earliest history plays - the three parts of Henry VI.  Picking up from where we left off, today's play opens with the funeral ...

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights (1976) by John Steinbeck from 2021-03-31T22:28:41

S3E37 John Steinbeck’s The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights was published posthumously in 1976. Though unfinished, it is a fascinating record of a legendary American writer attempting t...

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889) by Mark Twain from 2021-03-16T21:42:20

S3E36 A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court  is Mark Twain's rollicking attack on the Arthurian romances. Join us today as we discuss Twain, typewriters, and dynamiting wizards out of the ...

Interview with Aaron Sidwell from 2021-02-21T12:54:01

S3E35 Today Ash is joined once again by special guest Aaron Sidwell to talk more about his recent performance of Henry V at the Barn Theatre in Cirencester, his YouTube Series Bard from the Barn...

Henry V (1599) by William Shakespeare from 2021-02-19T22:54:31

S3E34 We reach the end of Shakespeare's second cycle of English History plays with Henry V - the story of England's glorious King and his famous victories in France. Joining Ash to discuss the p...

Interview with Debbie Cannon from 2021-02-05T01:00

S3E33 Following on from our recent episode on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, today Ash talks more to Debbie Cannon about her solo show based on the poem, which premiered at the 2017 Edinburgh ...

Interview with Stanley Wells from 2021-02-03T13:23:38

S3E32 Following on from yesterday's episode, today's podcast is an extended interview with Sir Stanley Wells, in which he tells us more about his recent publication All the Sonnets of Shakesepar...

Shakespeare's Sonnets (1609) by William Shakespeare from 2021-02-01T21:13:12

S3E31 In 1609, for the first time, all 154 of Shakespeare's Sonnets were published. Initially attracting little attention, in the centuries that followed they have been censored, rearranged and ...

Foul Papers: Bang, Sparrowhawk! from 2021-01-29T23:57:10

S3E30 A new volume of foul papers featuring a newly found Ted Hughes recording, the fiendish murder of Fudge Lullaby, the return of Haggis McTouristboard and a very special mystery interviewee f...

Tam o' Shanter (1791) by Robert Burns from 2021-01-25T21:56:13

S3E29 It's Burns Night! And to celebrate, here's an episode all about the Caledonian Bard's witch tale, Tam o' Shanter. Tune in for a discussion of Burns in Edinburgh, the folk tale origin of hi...

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1400) from 2021-01-18T22:44:21

S3E28 Ash is joined by actor and writer Debbie Cannon to discuss a classic of medieval literature, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Tune in for a discussion of alliterative verse, the pitfalls o...

A Christmas Carol (1843) by Charles Dickens from 2021-01-01T19:36:19

S3E27 Finally! After three attempts, Ash and Adam have at last recorded an episode on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Join us for a festive discussion about Victorian Christmases, ghosts, ...

Foul Papers: Irvine's a-Pervin' from 2020-12-22T09:09:33

S3E26 A rusty return to Foul Papers featuring an appalling American accent, a hardboiled poem from Irvine Welsh, a big fat quiz and an episode of Barclay and Woof. 

Title Music: 'Not Drun...

'Pike' (1959) by Ted Hughes from 2020-11-11T14:16:54

S3E25 Let's have a day off the Plantagenets and King Arthur, and go fishing with Ted Hughes in a pond as deep as England.

Funnily enough, what we reel in will take us right back to Shakes...

Interview with The Show Must Go Online from 2020-11-07T10:07:36

S3E24 Today, Ash is once again joined by Rob Myles and Sarah Peachey from The Show Must Go Online, to talk more in detail about their wonderful work: namely, casting, rehearsing and performing l...

Henry IV Part 2 (1597-98) by William Shakespeare from 2020-11-05T07:06:03

S3E23 Previously on the Plantagenets: Prince Hal, the future King Henry V had proved his royal chops by killing Hotspur at the Battle of Shrewsbury. His father lies gravely ill. Falstaff continu...

Henry IV Part 1 (1596-97) by William Shakespeare from 2020-10-28T01:09:08

S3E22 We’re back on Shakespeare's History plays, picking up a year or so after the events of Richard II. Today, Ash is joined by Rob Myles and Sarah Peachey - co-creators of The Show Must Go Onl...

James Patterson Bingo Part 12 from 2020-10-13T07:53:05

S3E21 It's closing time in the bingo hall, as Adam and Ash have run out of both balls and patience. One last trundle from Mr. Patterson gives us more fascinating background on all the husbands i...

Interview with Tom Williams from 2020-10-10T01:30

S3E20 Today, we have an extended interview with Tom Williams, biographer of Raymond Chandler. Check out yesterday's episode on the life of Chandler, and get Tom's fantastic book A Mysterious Som...

The Life of Raymond Chandler (1888-1959) from 2020-10-09T01:32

S3E19 Today, Ash is joined by Tom Williams to talk about the life of Raymond Chandler. Tom has written a fantastic biography of Chandler called A Mysterious Something in the Light - which you ca...

Interview with Jayme Stayer from 2020-10-07T07:46:35

S3E18 Following on from the blood, thunder and turbulent priests of yesterday's episode, today Ash is joined once again by Dr. Jayme Stayer, President of the International T. S. Eliot Society to...

Murder in the Cathedral (1935) by T. S. Eliot from 2020-10-06T11:29:22

S3E17 Ash is joined today by special guest, Dr. Jayme Stayer, President of the International T.S. Eliot Society, to discuss the poet's 1935 play, Murder in the Cathedral.  To find out more about...

The Sword in the Stone (1938) by T. H. White from 2020-09-28T09:07:09

S3E16 Today we discuss the delightful first entry in T.H. White's Arthurian epic The Once and Future King. A novel "unique in it's creation of a childhood for King Arthur" (here nicknamed the Wa...

Interview with Gregory Gudgeon from 2020-09-21T18:23:56

S3E15 Following on from our episode on Richard II, Ash is joined once again by Gregory Gudgeon, to talk about his fabulous production of the play, as well as the art of verse speaking, puppetry ...

Richard II (1595) by William Shakespeare from 2020-09-19T02:07:56

S3E14 Today, Ash is joined by special guest Gregory Gudgeon to talk about Richard II, Shakespeare’s most lyrical history play. Gregory has recently performed the role in the fantastic production...

James Patterson Bingo Part 11 from 2020-09-03T18:20:02

S3E13 Enjoy today's installment of Lady Crime - which is heavy on airports, men and nothing happening, but was excitingly recorded in an all new bingo-hall. 

Title Music: 'Not Drunk' by T...

Edward III (1595) by William Shakespeare from 2020-08-22T16:48:54

S3E12 A contentious episode today as Ash and Adam discuss Edward III, a play about the medieval King, which might have been written by William Shakespeare.  We're going to say it was for today, ...

James Patterson Bingo Part 10 from 2020-08-11T21:20:12

S3E11 *ERIC. I mean ERIC Weinstein throughout. Pls don't suicide me. 

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Interview with Michael Smith from 2020-06-27T20:30

S3E10 Following on from yesterday's chat with Michael Smith about the alliterative Morte Arthur, today we have an extended interview in which Ash asks Michael about the process of translating fr...

The Alliterative Morte Arthure (1399-1402) from 2020-06-27T00:23:54

S3E9 Today, Ash is joined by special guest Michael Smith to talk about the alliterative Morte Arthur, a long poem composed in the 14th century. Michael is completing a new tranlsation of the poe...

James Patterson Bingo Part 9 from 2020-06-18T09:48:54

S3E8 And so we march on through the bingo hall of death and dullness. This week features talk about James Patterson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, an overly elaborate DUI and a whole lot o...

Edward II (1591-92) by Christopher Marlowe from 2020-06-05T19:41:21

S3E7 Today, Christopher Marlowe takes us back to Elizabethan theatre! We’re going to be spending quite a lot of time with the Plantagenet Kings of England, and today we meet our first family mem...

James Patterson Bingo Part 8 from 2020-06-03T23:29:28

S3E6 The James Patterson Bingo experiment continues and the horror is setting in. 

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James Patterson Bingo Part 7 from 2020-05-22T09:30:11

S3E5 Or as James Patterson might call it: "The Seventh Episode". 

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The Prophecies of Merlin (1136) by Geoffrey of Monmouth from 2020-05-22T08:48:56

S3E4 Our historical tour gets underway in earnest as Adam and Ash park the time machine in the 12th Century in order to hear a young wizard called Merlin deliver his famous prophecies. 

T...

Jekyll and Hyde on Film (1912-2017) from 2020-05-22T08:27:27

S3E3 New kind of episode today as Adam and Ash watch a tonne of clips from Jekyll and Hyde movies, each depicting a transformation scene of some kind, beginning with the silent movies of the 191...

James Patterson Bingo Part 6 from 2020-05-22T08:00:52

S3E2 A bumper package of Patterson for you today: we've got a info dump courtesy of a helpful newspaper clipping, then basically a load of cocks, balls and tiny wads. 

Title Music: 'Not D...

The Time Machine (1895) by H. G. Wells from 2020-05-22T07:51:46

S3E1 Adam and Ash kick off their historical series by climbing into a time machine. Here be Morlocks. 

Title Music: 'Not Drunk' by The Joy Drops.

Sound Bites from: The Time Machine...

Best of Foul Papers Series 1&2 from 2020-05-06T10:24

Or should that be Foulest? You decide. 

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The Big Sleep (1939) by Raymond Chandler from 2020-05-01T23:08:28

S2E46 Today, to round out series 2 of Ear Read This, we're finally talking (relevantly) about The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. Join us as we discuss the birth of Los Angeles, koshing, wisecrac...

James Patterson Bingo Part 5 from 2020-04-25T17:56:58

S2E45 Another three chapters down. But at what cost? This week features a lot of walking, some rhyming and one of us has a breakdown. 

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The Life of Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005) from 2020-04-24T08:25:25

S2E44 Today I'm thrilled to be talking about Hunter S. Thompson again, and doubly thrilled to be joined by Caleb James of the Drunken Pen Writing Podcast to do so. 

You can check out Cale...

James Patterson Bingo Part 4 from 2020-04-21T00:57:28

S2E43 Not, as referenced, "a new series" - we thought we'd drop this one a bit sooner as it was recorded in earlier, happier times and sounds more dated by the day. Doesn't stop it being a non-s...

'The Land of Counterpane' (1885) by Robert Louis Stevenson from 2020-04-20T12:11:26

S2E42 A poem for isolation? Today's episode looks at a single poem from Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses and examines the incongruous conditions in which he composed his arcad...

Adam Vs. The Lizard King Part 4 from 2020-04-16T21:07:49

S2E41 Believe it or not, Adam is STILL trying to fight his way off Fire Island. Waiting in store for him today are Trolls, Shamans and lizard therapy advice from agony aunt and special guest sta...

Don Quixote Part 2 (1615) by Miguel de Cervantes from 2020-04-16T11:51:41

S2E40 Today we're back in La Mancha. Part II of Cervantes' masterpiece sees Quixote adapting to his own fame, and reconciling himself with plagiarism, doubt and death. 

Title Music: 'Not...

James Patterson Bingo Part 3 from 2020-04-14T23:44:02

S2E39 Shocking shootings, candid chins and like that. 

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James Patterson Bingo Part 2 from 2020-03-14T08:46:53

S2E38 Another three chapters of Xmas Ladies Kill Squad get analysed by Ash and Adam.

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All other music by Epidemic Sound. 

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Don Quixote Part 1 (1605) by Miguel de Cervantes from 2020-03-11T11:26:09

S2E37 Our fiftieth episode starts with a bit of explaining a recent pod-tragedy, after which we get stuck into Part I of Don Quixote. Today's episode explores the origin of the man from La Manch...

Foul Papers: You're Winsome, You're Loathsome from 2020-02-21T18:20:01

S2E36 Simon Armitage responds to criticism the only way he knows how. A thrilling script from Richard Woof sees the boys dealing with fruity dames and hot weather, and a quiz in the form of a mu...

'The Four Ages of Man' (8 AD) by Ovid (The Metamorphoses, Book 1) from 2020-02-21T17:12:03

S2E35 Today Ash talks about the second story in Ovid's Metamophoses - the story of the four ages of mankind. At first the world was Golden (and veggie). Then came the Silver Age, the Brazen age ...

James Patterson Bingo from 2019-12-16T07:49:47

S2E34 Today we observe an Ear Read This Christmas tradition: talking about James Patterson. We're taking his latest (by the time you finish reading this sentence it won't be his latest anymore),...

Adam Vs. The Lizard King Part 3 from 2019-12-12T11:32:05

S2E33 Warm up in festive style with a third visit to Fire Island. Christmas songs, slave dwarfs, and BDSLM: Bondage and Domination of Snakes, Lizards and Marine Iguana. 

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The Maltese Falcon (1930) by Dashiell Hammett from 2019-12-07T10:06:10

S2E32 Today we've got a classic of the hardboiled detective genre, stuffed with husky dames, fat masterminds, and at the centre of it all a scowling anti-hero, the pleasant blond satan, Sam Spad...

'Spring Offensive' (1918) by Wilfred Owen from 2019-12-02T12:57:45

S2E31 Wilfred Owen made a cameo appearance in our last episode, and today we look at him in detail. We discuss his war service, his attitude to life in the trenches, and analyse his strange, uns...

Regeneration (1991) by Pat Barker from 2019-11-27T17:10:34

S2E30 Pat Barker's Regeneration is set in Craiglockhart Hospital bewteen the months of July and November, 1917. Among the patients are the war poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. On today'...

Adam Vs. The Lizard King Part 2 from 2019-11-08T20:21:39

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Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) by Robert Louis Stevenson from 2019-11-05T11:13:56

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Water Music (1981) by T. C. Boyle from 2019-10-27T10:30:27

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Let's Play a Choose Your Own Adventure Book from 2019-10-17T10:14:10

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Foul Papers: The Adventures of Haggis McTouristboard from 2019-10-11T12:01:29

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Edinburgh: Picturesque Notes (1878) by Robert Louis Stevenson from 2019-10-08T18:16:59

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'September 1, 1939' (1939) by W. H. Auden from 2019-10-01T22:53:19

S2E23 A month late, but hey ho. Here's an episode on a poem written by W. H. Auden. 'September 1, 1939' was begun on the opening day of WWII and is a hinge-poem in Auden's long, swinging career....

One Year of Ear Read This from 2019-09-28T13:40:24

S2E22 A quick update on Ear Read This business. Thank you to everyone who has listened to us chew your ear off with our one-year old talk. We are now potty-trained, upright, and showing flashes ...

Ear DON'T Read This: 'Beautiful Edinburgh' (1881) by William McGonagall from 2019-08-06T19:35:19

S2E21 What better way to celebrate the Edinburgh Fringe kicking off than with some awful poetry? William McGonagall (1825-1902) has gone down in history as the worst poet of all time. Deserved? ...

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1971) by Hunter S. Thompson from 2019-07-31T00:35

S2E20 We were somewhere around Stockbridge on the edge of the fringe when the books began to take hold. Today on Ear Read This, Ash and Adam discuss Hunter S. Thompson's riotously enjoyable Fear...

Cock and Bull (1992) by Will Self from 2019-07-27T10:29:36

S2E19 Continuing our exploration of metamorphoses, today Ash talks about Will Self's Cock and Bull. A hermaphroditic interest makes it only right that we get two stories for the price of one. Fi...

'De puero balbutiente' (1598) by Thomas Bastard from 2019-06-23T15:24:45

S2E18 A new kind of episode today as Ash discusses a single 12-line poem, 'De puero balbutiente' ('The stuttering child') by the Reverend Thomas Bastard. If you enjoy this new format and would l...

Foul Papers: The Poet a Lorry Hit from 2019-06-15T13:22:31

S2E17 The contents of these Foul Papers include a sign off from the Ruff Squad, some whistling, a Goodreads update, a reaction to Simon Armitage as our new Poet Laureate, a rap battle between Mr...

The Wind in the Willows (1908) by Kenneth Grahame from 2019-06-08T13:18:23

S2E16 Today Adam and Ash are messing about in boats, eating excessive luncheon hampers, losing an otter and finding God, scrooging out of burrows and poop-pooping through the woods. 

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Foul Papers: The Dalai Ferret from 2019-05-31T01:30

S2E15 A Foul Papers we recorded a while ago which unfortunately is blighted by a series of interruptions from the Ruff Squad - a gang of elite British writers including Carol Ann Duffy, Ian Rank...

The Breast (1972) by Philip Roth from 2019-05-28T01:09:38

S2E14 Continuing our exploration of literary metamorphoses, this week we look at David Alan Kepesh, a literature professor inexplicably transformed into a woman's breast in this 1972 novella by ...

The Life of Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) from 2019-05-22T15:39:42

S2E13 Ash and Adam discuss the colourful life of Arthur Conan Doyle, on the 160th anniversary of his birth. A life too full of adventure to be briefly described, but we had a go anyway. Tune in ...

The Golden Ass (160-80 AD) by Apuleius from 2019-03-26T15:39:28

S2E12 The Golden Ass is the only surviving complete Latin novel from the Classical period. Also known as The Metamorphoses, it straddles more than one running theme on Ear Read This, as well as ...

Death and Mr. Pickwick (2015) by Stephen Jarvis from 2019-03-18T00:30

S2E11 In the second part of this week's Pickwick bonanza, Stephen Jarvis joins us again to tell us about his first novel, Death and Mr. Pickwick. 

Discover the true story behind the origi...

The Pickwick Papers (1836-37) by Charles Dickens from 2019-03-15T01:32:28

S2E10 This week, Ash and Adam are joined by Stephen Jarvis (author of Death and Mr. Pickwick) to discuss The Pickwick Papers, the first novel by Charles Dickens.

As well as exploring its ...

Metamorphosis (1915) by Franz Kafka from 2019-03-08T01:00

S2E9 When Gregor Samsa awoke on morning from troubled dreams, he found himself changed into a... What? In today's episode, Ash investigates the cause of this Metamorphosis. The punishment of a y...

Foul Papers: Hello Chunky from 2019-02-28T23:30

S2E8 A trip to Cornwall with Richard Woof, a Booker bid, a Shakespeare character rap battle, a personal poem and some Amazon review quiz type stuff. 

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Foul Papers: Bad Sex Award Special from 2019-02-15T00:35

S2E6 Join Adam and Ash as they scholarly examine the history of the Bad Sex in Writing award, which has been run by the Literary Review for several decades. Even by our standards, the language i...

Romeo and Juliet (1595) by William Shakespeare from 2019-02-09T12:31:46

S2E5 Romeo and Juliet is arguably Shakespeare's most recognisable play. Today on Ear Read This, Ash discusses how the play deals with its fame, whether or not the lovers are damned, and what com...

Foul Papers: How to Bosh a Courgette from 2019-02-01T00:01

S2E4 Round II of the Goodreads League, a report from Birmingham courtesy of Richard Woof, a Burns Night quiz, a trilogy of haikus that are NOT personal, Ash shares his view of modern Scotland fr...

To the Hebrides (1775-85) by Samuel Johnson and James Boswell from 2019-01-25T00:30

S2E3 Join Adam and Ash for their first trip to the 18th century, as they discuss the delightful accounts Johnson and Boswell made of their 1773 tour of Scotland. Come for the Highland history, a...

Foul Papers: A Good Week Down the Chimney Pot from 2019-01-19T23:29

S2E2 Announcing the launch of the Foul Papers Goodreads league! There's a literary character rap battle, a new addition to the Ear Read This team, a promised poem, a condemnation of some crafty ...

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595) by William Shakespeare from 2019-01-16T16:25:34

S2E1 A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's most beloved and often performed plays. Join Ash for an exploration of The Dream's history, variety of verse styles, and it's preoccupation...

A Foul Papers Christmas Carol from 2018-12-24T00:56

S1E13 It's Christmas Eve night in Scrooge and Marley's Podcast Emporium, and poor Bob Cratchett, the overworked co-host of a literary podcast, is angling for tomorrow off... 

Music: "Not ...

Ear DON'T Read This: Haunted (2017) by James Patterson and James O. Born from 2018-12-16T19:31:47

S1E12 Haunted (? Or Hunted? or Hornswoggled? I dunno, something like that) by James Patterson and James O. Born is about the unforgettably named NY cop Michael Bennett. He’s all about...

Foul Papers: Metre and Two Veg from 2018-12-10T00:43:01

S1E11 This week's Foul Papers comes with a double helping of guff, as Ash and Adam try to crack the podcasting nut with the most trivial train stories, quizzes and conversation starters they can...

The Driver's Seat (1970) by Muriel Spark from 2018-12-07T03:21

S1E10 What's this? Some literature NOT by Shakespeare? Impossible! Today on Ear Read This, join us (Adam and Ash) for a lengthy discussion of The Driver's Seat by Muriel Spark. We try to Poirot ...

Foul Papers: William Wordswoof from 2018-12-03T03:22

S1E9 An all-new poetry challenge, a look at two Waterstones books of the month, a pub joke, a literary analysis of a Stormzy excerpt, a new episode of Earial and a discussion about spice. 

Love's Labour's Lost (1594-95) by William Shakespeare from 2018-12-01T18:58:22

S1E8 Love's Labour's Lost is a comedy full of buffoons, braggarts and would-be boffins. But why the non-traditional ending? What is a flap-dragon? And is it, as J.A. Herand called it, "exclusive...

Foul Papers: Edgar Allan Postman Pat from 2018-11-01T13:05:27

S1E7 We're back with a ghost train of Halloween features, including a new True Crime segment, a visit to the website of David Walliams, and a WH Auden themed drinking game. 

Music: "Not D...

Foul Papers: Pray for Mayo from 2018-10-10T17:08:49

S1E6 Does Lemony Snicket have a twin brother called Rickety Bucket? Is The Young Ones driving off a cliff a comic ending? Has a radio DJ Me Too'd an Ear Read This presenter? All this and more. <...

The Comedy of Errors (1594) by William Shakespeare from 2018-09-30T01:48:24

S1E5 The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare's shortest play, is discussed by Ash and guest co-host Ash. Discover the original sources for this twin-centric farce, how Shakespeare acoustically express...

Foul Papers: Shrew or False? from 2018-09-21T08:32:31

S1E4 A game of Shrew or False, a discussion about ambergris, spontaneous Tesco observations, tampered with Shakespeare readings, and a famous face-off. All this and more in Ash and Adam's Conten...

The Taming of the Shrew (1590-91) by William Shakespeare from 2018-09-17T11:09:02

S1E3 The Taming of the Shrew remains a controversial comedy over four hundred years after it first appeared, thanks to its apparent celebration of patriarchal oppression. Today on Ear Read This,...

Foul Papers: Cardio and Admin from 2018-09-14T15:16:46

S1E2 With thanks to Mark Wahlberg. In the first Friday "books down" episode, Ash and Adam discuss James Hilton's Lost Horizon, the burden of fame, watching 950 heads explode and an invigorating ...

The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1590-91) by William Shakespeare from 2018-09-11T00:51:24

S1E1 The Two Gentlemen of Verona is possibly the first play by William Shakespeare. Possibly. Today on Ear Read This, join Ash as he discusses the date of its composition, and argues with E. M. ...

Ear Read This Welcome Package from 2018-09-04T15:19:31

Welcome to Ear Read This. A podcast that swivels books around in your earholes to wax lyrical about literature.