The History of Literature Podcast is a member of the Podglomerate Network and Lit Hub Radio.

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Hello, today on the podcast, an author who's written a book examining the life, work,

and legacy of one of the 20th century's most published African-American women, Zora Neal Hurston,

and some new revelations about Jack Kerouac's Buddhist side. Some previously unpublished writings have emerged. All that plus a listener email today on the

history of literature. Okay, here we go. Welcome to the podcast. I'm Jack Wilson here to host this here thing.

That's your thing. Thank you for joining me. I'm very glad you're here. We start today with a listener email.

This comes from Julia in Woodstock, New York. Whoa, Nelly. That's how it begins.

Okay.

I don't know.

This is me again, Jack.

This isn't Julia.

I don't know what your email habits are, dear listeners.

I don't know whether you approach emails when you receive an email with the eagerness of someone

getting a birthday card from a long-lost friend

or lover, or whether you open your emails with the dread of someone slicing open the envelope

of what is sure to be a hefty bill. But I can tell you this much. As far as I'm concerned,

if a message begins, whoa, Nelly, I'm going to keep reading

a little bit with a little bit of excitement, but also a dose of apprehension. Let's see. That's

what my mindset is. What have I gotten myself into this time? Just how badly have I screwed things up?

...