The Literary Life Podcast

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1. Episode 351: Best of Series – Northanger Abbey, Intro and Ch. 1-2

   3 november 2026 · 1 uur 11 min

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   This week on The Literary Life podcast we bring you an episode from our vault, the opening of a series from Season 1 all about Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. For this introductory episode, Cindy Rollins and Angelina Stanford are joined by Thomas Banks. Together they discuss the advent of the novel as a form, as well as some predecessors of Austen. Lees meer

   Angelina points out Austen's satirical voice in poking fun at the sentimental novel in the first few chapters. She also encourages us to look for the real life dangers the main characters encounter in contrast to those sensations of the popular sentimental or gothic novel. Furthermore, we ought to notice who is reading various genres of literature and what that says about those characters.

   Cindy and Angelina also talk about Jane Austen's writing and her economy of style and the lasting quality of her books. Along with criticism of sensationalism, Austen also adds a healthy dose of criticism of the education given young women in her day. We also learn that this is a novel of development as we watch Catherine Moorland learn her way around the world.

   Don't forget to head over to House of Humane Letters to check out the upcoming fall webinars, the 2027 Literary Life Online Conference, and the HHL annual sale coming up November 21-December 31, 2026. Also, Cindy has a new "Advent to Epiphany" group Morning Time coming up in December now open for registration at MorningTimeforMoms.com.

   And for the full show notes for this episode, you can visit https://theliterary.life/351.

2. Episode 350: "Lilith" by George MacDonald, Ch. 33-End

   27 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 36 min

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   On The Literary Life podcast today, Angelina and Addison will wrap up the final installment of our series covering George MacDonald's Lilith. Throughout this conversation they make more connections to other books and stories that they have brought up throughout this series. They also talk about how this story highlights the realities of the journey of the soul, the problem of reading a story like this theologically instead of poetically, the pictures of repentance and judgment, and so much more! Lees meer

   To view the full show notes for this episode, please visit https://theliterary.life/350.

3. Episode 349: "Lilith" by George MacDonald, Ch. 17-32

   20 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 28 min

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   On today's episode of The Literary Life podcast, Angelina and Addison are back to continue their book series on Lilith by George MacDonald. Before diving into chapters 17-32, they talk about the great influence that George MacDonald was on so many other authors. Addison also shares some further information on the character of Lilith in the literary tradition. Then they turn to examining each chapter in this section of the book, including highlights such as the skeleton couple, Mr. Vane awakening Lilith, the people of Bulika, Lilith's palace, the image of the horse, and so much more! Lees meer

   Don't forget to check out everything going on over at HouseofHumaneLetters.com, and sign up for the newsletter to stay up to date on all the upcoming new autumn classes and webinars, including more information about the 2027 Literary Life Online Conference taking place January 22-29, which is now open for registration!

   To view the full show notes for this episode, please visit https://theliterary.life/349.

4. Episode 348: "Lilith" by George MacDonald, Ch. 6-16

   6 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 31 min

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   This week Angelina and Addison are back on The Literary Life podcast to continue their discussion series on George MacDonald's Lilith. Today's episode will cover chapters 6-16. They open the conversation with some thoughts on the disorientation we experience when reading MacDonald in general and Lilith in particular. In comparing this work to episodic medieval romances, they give some advice on how to orient yourself as you read this story. Addison shares what it means that the images in this book are "un-displaced." After many preliminary thoughts, Angelina and Addison start moving through the chapters and talking about the major images and symbols we see throughout this section of the book. Lees meer

   Don't forget to check out everything going on over at HouseofHumaneLetters.com, and sign up for the newsletter to stay up to date on all the upcoming new autumn classes and webinars, including more information about the 2026 Literary Life Online Conference, which is now open for registration!

   To view the full show notes for this episode, please visit https://theliterary.life/348.

5. Episode 347: "Lilith" by George MacDonald, Intro and Ch. 1-5

   22 september 2026 · 1 uur 16 min

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   On The Literary Life Podcast this week, Angelina and Thomas are joined by Addison Hornstra as they open a new book discussion series covering George MacDonald's Lilith: A Romance. This introductory conversation on the book opens with some thoughts on both the book's title and the epigraph. Addison shares some background on the story from MacDonald's own son and how this book was written and sent out into the world. They discuss the form of Lilith as a literary romance, as well as the ways in which MacDonald points the reader to admit his limits of understanding. Another major topic is the way in which this story relates to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. Lees meer

   Don't forget to check out everything going on over at HouseofHumaneLetters.com, and sign up for the newsletter to stay up to date on all the upcoming new autumn classes and webinars. You will also be among the first to know when the 2026 Literary Life Online Conference tickets go on sale!

   If you would like to view the full show notes for this episode, please visit https://theliterary.life/347.

6. Episode 346: Finding the Education for Your Vocation with the Hornstra Sisters

   15 september 2026 · 1 uur 32 min

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   This week on The Literary Life podcast, Angelina and Thomas sit down for another chat with Addison and Ella Hornstra to bring us an update on their literary lives and educational journeys. They open the conversation with some thoughts on how and why Addison and Ella changed their educational paths and goals. They discuss how the girls went about the search to find their vocations and how that affected their decisions on pursuing their education as adults. Thomas asks how Addison and Ella's approach to reading in English has been affected by the process of learning foreign languages. Angelina also digs deeper into the process the girls went through in order to find the professors and departments that would serve their needs. Both the Hornstras also share how their current reading lives are different than they were the last time they were both on the podcast. Lees meer

   Join us back here next week when we begin discussing Lilith by George MacDonald.

   Be sure to check out the upcoming webinars from both Thomas Banks and each of the Hornstra sisters over at House of Humane Letters!

   To view the full show notes for this episode, please visit https://theliterary.life/364.

7. Episode 345: "Best of" Series – The Literary Life of Addison and Ella Hornstra (Ep. 182)

   8 september 2026 · 1 uur 52 min

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   On The Literary Life podcast today, we bring you a replay of a chat that Angelina, Cindy, and Thomas had with twin sisters Addison and Ella Hornstra. Together they have been given a literary home education. Angelina introduces the Hornstra ladies and she and Thomas tell a little bit about having them as students. Cindy also shares how she met the Hornstra family. Then they dig into the girls' reading journeys from the beginning of their learning to read all the way to their current reading lives. Some of the topics that come up in this conversation are: reading content beyond your understanding, owning your reading life, the problem with using the wrong approach to literature, the dangers of modern education for uniquely gifted students, the power of just reading well, and so much more. Join us back here next week when Addison and Ella will return with an update on their literary lives and the ways that their educational path changed after this original episode was recorded. Lees meer

   If you want to get the replays of the 2023 Back to School Conference mentioned in this episode, please visit MorningTimeforMoms.com.

   To view the full show notes for this episode, you can see them at https://theliterary.life/345.

8. Episode 344: Watership Down by Richard Adams, Ch. 41-50

   1 september 2026 · 1 uur

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   On The Literary Life Podcast this week, Angelina and Thomas cover the final chapters in our series on Richard Adams' Watership Down. They begin by taking a look at the epilogue in light of the journey of the soul. Angelina also talks about why the many digressions in this book work so well and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the story. She and Thomas also talk about the aristeia finally making its appearance in these chapters, the legend of the Fisher King, the "deus ex machina" that we see here. Finally, they highlight the beauty of the ending of this story and its rich imagery. Lees meer

   Don't forget to check out everything going on over at HouseofHumaneLetters.com, and sign up for the newsletter to stay up to date on all the upcoming new autumn classes and webinars.

   To view the full show notes for this episode, please visit https://theliterary.life/344.

9. Episode 343: Watership Down by Richard Adams, Ch. 31-40

   25 augustus 2026 · 57 min

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   Today's episode of The Literary Life is part 4 of our series on Richard Adams' Watership Down. Angelina and Thomas discuss chapters 31-40 this week, starting with some thoughts on the conventions of literature in different literary periods. Thomas also makes a note that although this book mirrors many aspects of The Aeneid, readers ought not expect to find exact correspondence between the characters and plot points in the two stories. They talk about the depth and weight of this story due to its connections with mythology and the literary tradition. Lees meer

   Don't forget to check out everything going on over at HouseofHumaneLetters.com, and sign up for the newsletter to stay up to date on all the upcoming new autumn classes and webinars.

   To view the full show notes for this episode, please visit https://theliterary.life/343.

10. Episode 342: Watership Down by Richard Adams, Ch. 21-30

    18 augustus 2026 · 1 uur

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    On The Literary Life Podcast this week, Angelina and Thomas continue their series on Richard Adams' Watership Down, covering chapters 21-30 in this episode. Angelina opens the discussion with some thoughts on the importance of the structure of a story in view of the literary tradition inspired by her commonplace quote for today. Once again, in these chapters we see echoes from mythology and beast fables, including references to the "and-then" story structure, the Sabine women, the rabbit as trickster, testing of the leader, and so much more! Lees meer

    Don't forget to check out everything going on over at HouseofHumaneLetters.com to stay up to date on all the upcoming new autumn classes and webinars.

    And to see the full show notes for this episode, please visit https://theliterary.life/342.

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