Close Reads Podcast

Hello and welcome back to our series on Mark Twain’s classic novel! This week we discuss:
* Huck’s crisis
* The conscience vs the heart
* Twain’s critique of American religion and hypocrisy
* The role of individual conscience versus societal norms
* The symbolism of Providence and divine watchfulness
* Twain’s use of humor and absurdity to critique society
* Whether great regional novels can be subtle
* and much more!


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Welcome back to our ongoing conversation about Mark Twain’s classic novel. This week we discuss faux Dukes and Dauphins, satire and allegory, local conflicts and civil wars, and much more, including the protean nature of the book. Happy listening!


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to our series on Mark Twain’s most essential novel. This week we discuss:
* The development of Huck Finn’s conscience
* Jim’s character development
* The river as a symbol of journey and uncertainty
* The expurgated passage
* Twain’s homage to the Odyssey
* Jim’s humanization and moral integrity
* Twain’s technique of withholding information
* The significance of the Mississippi River as a unifying setting
* and more
Happy reading!


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

In this second tribute episode to Wendell Berry, Martin Cothran and Alan Cornett join the show to share what it was like to know Berry the man, not just the great literary figure.


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

One of our literary heroes, the great Wendell Berry, died this week at the age of 92 and we’re here to pay tribute. In this episode, we consider his influence on literature, agriculture, and culture, plus share some personal stories, favorite passages, and insights into what makes Berry a timeless writer and thinker. Thanks for tuning in. We’d love to hear what Berry meant to you!


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe