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Book Riot - The Podcast

Why Literary Agents Matter with Laura McGrath

Book Riot - The Podcast

Riot New Media Group, Inc

News, News Commentary, Arts, Tv & Film, Books

4.41.1K Ratings

🗓️ 29 April 2026

⏱️ 52 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Prof. Laura McGrath joins Jeff to talk about her new book, Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction. Literary agents try to stay out of the spotlight, but they shape what you read. We talk about why agents came into being, how they have developed over time, and how American fiction wouldn't be the same without them. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Use code THEBOOKS for 20% off at Cozy Earth. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping and 365-day returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:12.0

Electrics playing tricks or a pipe that's broke. We're there for everyone. Even blue furry folk.

0:19.0

Your home won't feel booby-trapped.

0:21.4

It'll feel just like new.

0:23.4

British gas taking care of things and looking after you.

0:27.5

T's and C supply, excess options available per repair.

0:30.2

Welcome to True Spies.

0:32.5

The podcast that takes you deep inside the greatest secret missions of all time.

0:38.0

Suddenly out of the dark that's appeared in Lobbin.

0:40.0

You'll meet the people who live life undercover.

0:43.6

What do they know?

0:44.7

What are their skills?

0:45.9

And what would you do in their position?

0:48.4

Vengeance felt good.

0:50.0

Seeing these people pay for what they'd done felt righteous.

0:54.6

True spies from Spyscape Studios, wherever you get your podcasts.

1:05.0

This is the Book Riot podcast.

1:07.1

I'm Jeff O'Neill.

1:08.0

Rebecca is out today.

1:09.7

So with me, wonderfully, in her place, is Dr. Laura McGrath, friend of the show. You've heard her on the show before. If you've been listening to Zero to Well Red, you'll see her in the feed with us. Talk about Interpreter of Malities by Jubilee, which makes an appearance in the book we're about to talk about. Out today, or out yesterday, I should say, Laura, it's been out for a day in the future as we record this. Middleman literary agents and the making of American fiction. For those of you listen to Laura, she is interested in the nuts and bolts of how publishing works from an academic, from a scholarly point of view, whereas Rebecca and I are just peanut, like Waldorf and what's his name in the Muppet show throwing stuff from the

1:45.4

rafter down on the stage.

...

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