715 How Did George Eliot and the Victorians Respond to Climate Collapse? (with Nathan Hensley) | People at Museums Are Losing Their Brains! | My Last Book with Stephen Browning and Simon Thomas

The History of Literature

Jacke Wilson

History, Books, Arts

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 10 July 2025

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What does it feel like to live helplessly in a world that is coming undone? If you're alive in 2025, you are probably very familiar with this feeling - and if you'd been alive in the age of Victorian literature, you might have felt that way too. In this episode, Jacke talks to author Nathan K. Hensley about his book Action without Hope: Victorian Literature after Climate Collapse, which studies how authors like George Eliot, Emily Brontë, H.G. Wells, Lewis Carroll, and Christina Rossetti used aesthetic strategies to deal with the anxiety and despair of ongoing climate disaster. What did they face? How did they cope? And can we learn from their examples? PLUS Jacke dives into some news from Italian museums, where people have been "losing their brains." What's going on with them? AND two Dickens experts, Stephen Browning and Simon Thomas, co-authors of The Real Charles Dickens, stop by to discuss their choice for the last book will they ever read. Will they choose something by Dickens? Note: The "My Last Book" conversation in this episode was recorded before the untimely passing of Stephen Browning. He was a wonderful guest, and we at the History of Literature Podcast are very grateful to have had the chance to speak with him. Our deepest sympathies are with his friends, family, and loved ones. May he rest in peace. Special Announcement: The History of Literature Podcast Tour is happening in May 2026! Act now to join Jacke and fellow literature fans on an eight-day journey through literary England in partnership with ⁠John Shors Travel⁠. Find out more by emailing [email protected] or [email protected], or by contacting us through our website ⁠historyofliterature.com⁠. Or visit the ⁠History of Literature Podcast Tour itinerary⁠ at ⁠John Shors Travel⁠. 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.
0:09.0	Hey folks, it's Jack here to promote something that's a little special, not a thing and not a service,
0:15.1	an opportunity for you to have an experience. The History of Literature podcast is going on the road,
0:24.1	and you can join us. Our first stop is Literary England, the land of Dr. Johnson and Jane
0:30.0	Austin and Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Oh, and Dickens. Oh, and Shakespeare. Perhaps you've
0:36.7	heard of him. This isn't a trip where you
0:39.2	march from site to site, checking off boxes. Seen it, seen it, seen it, seen it. This is a week,
0:44.9	plus a little more traveling with me and Emma in a group of other fans of literature. All of us
0:51.1	enjoying our conversations, our chance to learn and grow and be inspired by
0:56.5	these writers and their works that we love so much.
1:00.1	With special visits along the way from past guests of the show, your favorites, who will
1:04.3	deepen our appreciation for what we're seeing.
1:07.4	So please consider it.
1:08.9	We would love to have you.
1:12.3	You can learn more by going to John Shores Travel, that's S-H-O-R-S, and look for the upcoming trip to England with Jack Wilson,
1:19.1	or reach out to us at history of literature.com, and we will tell you all the details. It's going to be
1:25.4	in May of 2026, but act now to secure your spot.
1:29.8	Space is limited. And let's all spend some quality time together, enjoying literature and enjoying life.
1:37.4	Ready to launch your business? Get started with the commerce platform made for entrepreneurs.
1:41.8	Shopify is specially designed to help you start, run and
1:45.5	grow your business with easy customizable themes that let you build your brand, marketing
1:50.2	tools that get your products out there. Integrated shipping solutions that actually save you time,
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