American Writers (One Hundred Pages at a Time)

Episode 19: Frank Norris, The Octopus (4): The Fall of the League

In this episode, we reach the climax of Frank Norris' The Octopus, which the defeat of the Rachers League and the triumph of the railroad.

Episode 18: Frank Norris, The Octopus (3): Fight or Die

Part 3 on Frank Norris' The Octopus. In this episode, we see the global significance of American wheat as the ranchers begin to search for ways to struggle against the railroad. And some of our beloved characters learn the hard way that the railroad leaves no one untouched.

Episode 17: Frank Norris, The Octopus (2): Love in the Wheat Fields

Second episode on Frank Norris' The Octopus. We see the beginnings of the ranchers' resistance and some nice meditations on relationships past and future. It's still spring and nothing has matured yet. We also get one of the great barn dances of American liteature.

Episode 16: Frank Norris, The Octopus (1): Setting

My first episode on one of my favorite novels, Frank Norris' The Octopus. This episode includes a detailed study of the characters of the novel.

Episode 15: Frank Norris, McTeague; Bird in a Gilded Cage

We complete our study of Frank Norris' McTeague. As always, I finish each study of a particular work with an examination of the major themes and tropes of the work.

Thanks for listening.

Episode 14: Frank Norris, McTeague: Show Me the Money

In the second episode on Frank Norris' McTeague, we find out what happens to our favorite neighborhood dentist when he gets married and runs into a little bit of cash. . . . It is not good.

Episode 13: Frank Norris, McTeague: A Dentist Falls in Love

The beginning of my analysis of Frank Norris' McTeague, a novel on possession and greed.

Episode 12: Frank Norris, Vandover and the Brute: The Decline of Vandover

This episode complete our study of Frank Norris' Vandover and the Brute. We watch Vandover's inevitable decline with a little bit of glee. I also sum-up some of the major themes of the novel.

Episode 11: Frank Norris, Vandover and the Brute: On Being a Pampered Jerk

We begin a new series on Frank Norris, starting with his Vandover and the Brute, first published after his death. In the first half of the novel, we see the early life of Vandover, his education, and the consequences of his playboy lifestyle. This episode also includes an introduction into Frank Norris and a discussion of his legacy.
This episode includes brief references to sexual violenc and suicide.

Episode 10: Melville: Mardi Part 4: Conclusion?

Our final episode on Herman Melville for a while and the end of a series on Mardi. In the final part of the novel we enter Melville's metaphorical Europe and witness his critique of American democracy. This episode also includes an analysis of the major themes of the entire work.

Episode 9: Melville, Mardi, Part 3: Religion and Free Will

In part 3 of our study of Herman Melville's Mardi, we take on the deep questions of free will and religion.
Yet the elusive Yillah is not to be found.

Episode 8: Melville: Mardi Part 2: Lost Love

In our second episode on Herman Melville's Mardi, we follow the adventures of Taji and his new companions: a philosopher, a king, a poet, and a historian. They begin to search all of the world of Mardi for Taji's lost love, Yillah.

Episode 7: Mardi: Part 1: Dude? Am I still in the Pacific?

The first of four episodes exploring Herman Melville's Mardi. He goes off the rails a bit in this one and and it is lots of fun.

Episode 6: Omoo 3: Island Wanderlust

In this final episode on Herman Melville's Omoo, we follow our narrator in various adventures through the islands of the Society Islands all of which climax in a failed job interview.

Episode 5: Omoo 1: Jailhouse Blues

I continue my study of Herman Melville's Omoo. In this part of the novel, our characters are put in a jail for sailors in punishment for resisting work. Their life in jail is partially a lesson in working class hyjinks and partially a lesson in class discipline.

Episode 4: Omoo: I Prefer Not to Sail

Herman Melville's second novel Omoo explores the vagabonds and wanderers of the colonial Pacific. But before our heroes can join that cast of fascinating figures, they will need to find a way off of their ship and away from their captain.
Enjoy as work resistance becomes rebellion.

Episode 3: Typee-Conclusion

In this episode, I complete my analysis of Herman Melville's Typee and explore some of the major themes of the novel. We say goodbye to the Marqueses, for now.

Episode 2: Sailor Ethnography

In the second hundred pages of Herman Melvill'e Typee, our narrator settles into life with the cannibal Typee and decides to become an anthropologist.

Episode 1: Starting in the Pacific

Welcome to the first episode of the American Writers: One Hundred Pages at a Time podcast. In this first episode we explore the first 100 pages of Herman Melville's first novel, Typee.