793 The Secret Order of Shandeans: Laurence Sterne in Early Soviet Russia (with Peter Budrin) | My Last Book with Edward Watts

The History of Literature

Jacke Wilson

History, Arts, Books

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 16 April 2026

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The 1920s were a tumultuous time for Russia, as the nation careened from the aftermath of revolution to the death of Lenin, the establishment of the Soviet Union, and the slide toward Stalinist totalitarianism. Given all of that serious upheaval, what explains the public's passion for the works of an 18th-century Anglican clergyman best known for his tongue-in-cheek narratives Tristram Shandy and A Sentimental Journey? In this episode, Jacke talks to Peter Budrin about his book Laurence Sterne and His Readers in Early Soviet Russia: The Secret Order of Shandeans. PLUS Edward Watts (The Romans: A 2,000-Year History) stops by to discuss his choice for the last book he will ever read. AND one of the twentieth-century's most provocative literary figures Anaïs Nin on the power of reading. 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

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	The History of Literature Podcast is a member of the Podglomerate Network and Lit Hub Radio.
0:09.0	Isn't life grande and making it better just got easier with Starbucks new protein cold foam?
0:15.7	A little something, something to take your favorite drinks up a notch with 15 grams of extra protein.
0:22.3	Turn your usual iced caramel latte into a smooth iced caramel protein latte.
0:27.6	Add a delicious swirl on top of your drink, just like that.
0:32.3	Protein never tasted so good with Starbucks new protein cold foam.
0:36.7	Subject to availability while stocks last.
0:39.1	Hello, do you ever wish you could step away from the noise of the world for a little while?
0:43.9	Stories from the village of nothing much takes you there. Each episode invites you into the village,
0:49.9	a soothing place where life moves gently. From the Inn on the Lake to the downtown bookshop,
0:55.4	from the farmer's market to a cabin in the woods,
0:58.2	you'll hear warm, family-friendly stories
1:00.6	designed to help you slow down, breathe easier, and feel at home.
1:05.2	It's a bit like a grown-up version of Mr. Rogers' neighborhood,
1:08.7	gentle, thoughtful, and full of everyday magic. From the creator of
1:12.8	the internationally beloved podcast, Nothing Much Happens. This series expands the village into a rich,
1:19.1	ongoing world. It's not about falling asleep. It's about comfort, calm, and the joy of a good story.
1:26.7	If you're new, try episode 84, all-animal edition. It's a delightful
1:31.2	introduction to the village's gentle pace and whimsy. You can listen to stories from the village of
1:36.7	nothing much wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, Russia in the 1920s was a time of great upheaval,
1:59.2	as a nation careened from the aftermath of the October Revolution to the establishment of the Soviet Union, the death of Lenin, and the slide towards Stalinist totalitarianism that would dominate so much of the 20th century.
2:03.3	And yet, this was a nation that had reached the pinnacle of literature, its greatest masters, still in the very recent past. Chekhov died in 1904, Tolstoy, in
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Jacke Wilson, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Jacke Wilson and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.