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

What I've dedicated my life to is revenge. A brand new drama based on the best-selling novel.

They think they're better than us. Who do you think you are? I'm going to prove to them that they're wrong.

She's punishing me. You destroyed my family. I will not rest until I've destroyed yours. A woman of substance on Channel 4 starts tonight at 9. I'm Alan and I'm Sean and together we host the Prancing Pony Podcast. Every week I explore Middle Earth with Sean or with other co-hosts lately with in-depth analysis and plenty of nerd humor. From The Hobbit to the Lord of the Rings and more, it's a great way for first-timers to experience J.R.R.R. Tolkien's captivating world. And for long-time fans, it's a deep dive into their favorite stories. So if you're ready to take the next step into the most beloved world in fantasy literature and become a part of a vibrant active

community of listeners, then look for The Prancing Pony Podcast, wherever you listen.

Hello, we start today with an anecdote.

After I graduated from high school, I made a move from a small town in Wisconsin to study

in Chicago, a city of millions of people, the biggest city that I had ever been in.

My attitude was, I can't believe you guys live here.

This is insane.

There's so much to do.

You're so lucky to be in this enormous city.

And yet Chicago called itself the second city, knowing it was forever the runner-up to New York.

It wasn't the second city to me.

It wasn't small or second best or the little brother or anything like that.

It took me a while to absorb this feeling of being in the second city, but I eventually did,

especially after I'd been to New York.

It's strange to define yourself by where you live, but it's even stranger to define yourself

or to feel that you're being defined by somewhere you don't live.

And literature is always about definitions and self-definitions.

It's often the plot of the book.

Who is this person?

...