673 Edna Ferber (with Julie Gilbert) | My Last Book with Jessica Kirzane

The History of Literature

Jacke Wilson

History, Books, Arts

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 27 January 2025

⏱️ 61 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Novelist and playwright Edna Ferber (1885-1968) lived a wondrous life: residing in Manhattan as a member of the famed Algonquin Round Table, writing a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel (So Big), and producing works that Hollywood turned into twentieth-century classics, including the Kern & Hammerstein musical Show Boat and George Stevens's Giant, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean. Along the way, she also served as a caretaker and mentor for her grandniece, who was wowed by her great aunt's style, presence, and celebrity connections. In this episode, Jacke talks to Julie Gilbert, that little girl who grew up to become a writer herself, about her new book Giant Love: Edna Ferber, Her Best-Selling Novel of Texas, and the Making of a Classic American Film. PLUS Jacke talks to Yiddish literature expert Jessica Kirzane about her choice for the last book she will ever read. Additional listening: 567 Your Dream Guest: Jessica Kirzane on Translating Yiddish Literature 316 Willa Cather (with Lauren Marino) 64 Dorothy Parker (with Mike Palindrome) The music in this episode is by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal. Learn more at gabrielruizbernal.com. Help support the show at patreon.com/literature or historyofliterature.com/donate. The History of Literature Podcast is a member of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate Network. Learn more at thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The History of Literature Podcast is a member of the Podglomerate Network and Lit Hub Radio.
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1:09.3	Hello, we begin today with a quote by a legendary 20th century American novelist.
1:14.5	Quote, only amateurs say that they write for their own amusement.
1:18.7	Writing is not an amusing occupation.
1:21.8	It is a combination of ditch digging, mountain climbing, treadmill, and childbirth.
1:29.3	Writing may be interesting,
1:38.7	absorbing, exhilarating, racking, relieving, but amusing? Never. End quote. The speaker was Edna Ferber, author of Showboat and Giant, and the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for her novel
1:45.6	So Big.
1:47.2	Her string of adjectives for writing could equally be applied to her.
1:52.0	Or, well, let's see, it's a fairly long list.
	...

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