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

Today on the podcast, we discuss Ernest Hemingway's classic novel of Farewell to Arms

with the editor of a new edition of that book, Mark Cherino.

Plus, a novelist takes a rich man to school and the rest of us get to listen and learn.

And a man who's been called the most inventive graphic biographer on the planet

stops by to discuss his choice for the last book he will ever read. That's all coming up today

on the history of literature, and there's no better way to celebrate than talking a little Hemingway with one of our favorite guests, Mark Turino.

But we start today with an online dust-up between novelist Joyce Carol Oates and the richest

man in the world. I'm not going to name him because he doesn't really matter to the story.

What matters is his wealth, not dunking on him as a person. I'm more interested in what was said by Oates.

Most of you are probably a little familiar with Joyce Carol Oates. You might remember that we

covered her story, where are you going? Where have you been? Which is a classic 20th century story.

Joyce Carol Oates was born in 1938 and is now 87 years young. She's also well

known for her productivity. She's written 58 novels. And on top of that, there are plays and

poetry and nonfiction and a ton of short stories and et cetera.

The et cetera will wipe you out.

He notes his case.

I've never met Joyce Carol Oates, but I've been friends with several people who know her.

And they tell stories of her coming to dinner parties.

And at these parties, she'd get people talking, students and other writers and luminaries and friends,

people of high and low stations alike. She'd get them talking about their lives and their

families and their childhood and so on. And she'd listen and stare with those big eyes of hers.

...