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Step through the door in the wall and into the world of Frances Hodgson Burnett, the author behind The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, and Little Lord Fauntleroy. In this episode of the Brit Lit Book Club, we look at why these classic children’s novels are far more psychologically complex than their reputation suggests, and how they still speak to readers more than a century later. We start with Burnett’s remarkable life: a Manchester childhood, a move to post-Civil War Tennessee, a teenage writing career that supported her family, and the heartbreaking loss of her son Lionel. Then we visit Maytham Hall in Kent, where she restored her own walled rose garden, the real-life inspiration for the secret garden. In this episode, we explore: Burnett’s life of reinvention, from Victorian Manchester to America and back to EnglandLittle Lord Fauntleroy: class, democratic values, and the velvet suit that became a cultural phenomenonA Little Princess: how Sara Crewe uses imagination, dignity, and kindness to surviveThe Secret Garden: Mary, Colin, and Dickon, and the story of nature as healerChildren’s agency and transformation in Burnett’s fictionModern connections, including horticultural therapy and trauma recoveryA critical look at how Burnett handles class and povertyBooks mentioned in this episode: Burnett’s biographies Frances Hodgson Burnett: The Unexpected Life of the Author of The Secret Garden by Gretchen Holbrook GerzinaWaiting for the Party: The Life of Frances Hodgson Burnett by Ann Thwaite Burnett’s novels The Secret Garden A Little Princess Gardens and criticism Unearthing the Secret Garden by Marta McDowell: Frances Hodgson Burnett by Phyllis BixlerWant to walk the landscapes that inspired Burnett’s stories? Visit thebookclubtour.com to explore our small-group literary tours of England, Scotland, and France, and follow @thebookclubtour on Instagram for literary travel inspiration. Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, Little Lord Fauntleroy, British literature podcast, classic children’s literature, Maytham Hall, Victorian literature, book club podcast, literary travel, Brit Lit Book Club Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

C.S. Lewis: The Most Reluctant Convert — The Untold Love Story, Loss, and Faith Behind Narnia Before he was the beloved author of The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis was a devout atheist who swore he'd never believe in God. In this episode of The Brit Lit Book Club, we trace the extraordinary true story of Clive Staples "Jack" Lewis — from a grief-stricken childhood in Belfast and the brutal boarding schools that shaped him, to his complicated thirty-year relationship with Mrs. Moore, his legendary friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien and the Inklings at Oxford, and the late-in-life marriage to Joy Davidman that would break — and ultimately deepen — his faith. We dig into the real history behind The Kilns, Lewis's Oxford home where every Narnia book was written, and the true story behind the wardrobe, Aslan, and the faun with the umbrella that started it all. Plus: the eerie coincidence linking Lewis's death to JFK's assassination, book recommendations for going deeper into his life and work, and a look at what it's like to walk in Lewis's footsteps on The Book Club Tour through Oxford, Magdalen College, and The Eagle and Child pub. Whether you're a lifelong Narnia fan, an Oxford Inklings enthusiast, or just love a good literary biography, this episode has it all: grief, unlikely friendship, faith, and one of literature's greatest love stories. In this episode: C.S. Lewis's childhood, the loss of his mother, and his years as a committed atheistHis controversial thirty-year relationship with Mrs. Janie MooreJ.R.R. Tolkien, the Inklings, and the Oxford friendships that led to his conversionThe true story behind The Chronicles of Narnia and The KilnsHis late marriage to Joy Davidman and the grief that followed her deathBook recommendations for C.S. Lewis biographies, Narnia scholarship, and moreA preview of visiting The Kilns, Magdalen College, and Oxford on The Book Club Tour📚 Books Recommended in This Episode Jack: A Life of C.S. Lewis by George Sayer — Find Book HereC.S. Lewis: A Life by Alister McGrath — Find Book HereSurprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis — Find Book HereThe Most Reluctant Convert by David C. Downing — Find Book HereBecoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan Henry — Find Book HereAnd God Came In by Lyle Dorsett — Find Book HereThe Narnia Code by Michael Ward — Find Book HerePlanet Narnia by Michael Ward — Find Book HereMere Christianity by C.S. Lewis — Find Book HereThe Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis — Find Book HereA Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis — Find Book HereThe Discarded Image by C.S. Lewis — Find Book HereThe Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings by Philip and Carol Zaleski — Find Book Here🍵 This episode is brewed with Bird & Blend Tea Co.'s "Oxford Comma" blend. 📚 Explore literary travel to England, Scotland, and France with The Book Club Tour: thebookclubtour.com  📱 Follow along: @thebookclubtour on Instagram and Facebook Keywords: C.S. Lewis biography, Chronicles of Narnia history, Inklings Oxford, J.R.R. Tolkien friendship, The Kilns, literary podcast, British literature podcast, Joy Davidman, Mere Christianity, Christian apologetics history, Oxford literary tour Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

She sold two billion books. She's been translated into over a hundred languages. She has a Russian rock band named after her. And yet — she always said that within ten years of her death, no one would remember her at all.  In this episode, I sit down with Graham Kerr and Maria ("Miss Lemon") of English Riviera Walking Tours and English Riviera Custom Tours in Torquay, Devon — two of the most passionate, knowledgeable, and downright delightful Agatha Christie guides on the planet.  Graham and Maria bring Christie's story to life along the English Riviera coastline, Our group had the privilege of touring with them in October, and this conversation was every bit as magical as that day. We talk about Christie's extraordinary life. We dig into each location associated with Christie and chat about what it means to walk in the footsteps of the world's greatest mystery writer.  What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why Agatha's mother's impulsive decision to buy a house in Devon changed literary history foreverThe truth about the 1926 disappearance How Agatha became the first European woman to stand up on a surfboard in Hawaii.Why she used poison more than any other writer and where she learned about itThe love story behind her second marriage to archaeologist Max Mallowan, and how a daughter was won over with toffee lollipopsThe Christie renaissance happening right now📚 Books Mentioned in This Episode The Christie Novels — start here: And Then There Were None — Agatha Christie (read before visiting Burgh Island — trust us)Dead Man's Folly — Agatha Christie (read before visiting Greenway House — Maria's top pick)The Murder of Roger Ackroyd — Agatha Christie (the book that made Christie the best in the world)The ABC Murders — Agatha Christie (Graham's personal favorite — you won't guess the ending)Evil Under the Sun — Agatha Christie (set on Burgh Island / "Smuggler's Island")Murder on the Orient Express — Agatha Christie (inspired by her Middle East travels with Max)Death on the Nile — Agatha Christie (and stay tuned — I have an announcement about Egypt...)Murder in Mesopotamia — Agatha Christie (born from her digs in the Middle East with Max)The Man in the Brown Suit — Agatha Christie (linked to the archaeological digs at Kent's Cavern in Torquay)The Mystery of the Blue Train — Agatha Christie (one of the two books written in the shadow of her 1926 disappearance)The Christie Plays: The Mousetrap — Agatha Christie (74 years. 30,000 performances. Still running.)Witness for the Prosecution — Agatha Christie (Christie's own favorite — go see it in London before you see The Mousetrap)Towards Zero — Agatha Christie (posters just went up in Torquay as we recorded this!)Christie's Own Words: An Autobiography — Agatha Christie (600 pages — notably missing any mention of 1926)The Best Place to Start If You're New to Christie: Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman — Lucy Worsley (the biography that Graham, Maria, and your host all recommend without hesitation)🗺️ Ready to Walk in Agatha's Footsteps? Graham and Maria are two of the most extraordinary guides you will ever have the pleasure of following down a coastal path. Whether you book a walking tour with Graham, a bespoke chapter tour with Maria, or — as our Book Club Tour group did — both, you are in for an unforgettable day. Find Graham at englishrivierawalkingtours.co.uk and Maria at englishrivieracustomtours.co.uk. And if you're dreaming of your own literary tour — from the English Riviera to the Scottish Highlands to the fields of Provence to the streets of Jane Austen's Bath — come find us at thebookclubtour.com. A very exciting Egypt announcement is coming soon. 👀 Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

Do you have a classic sitting on your shelf that's been there for two years? Maybe someone gifted you Jane Austen, or you picked up a Brontë at a charity shop with the best intentions. And every time you walk past it, there's a little whisper that says: I should really read that. This episode is for you. In this week's episode of The Brit Lit Book Club, I'm making the case for why British classics still matter — and more importantly, giving you everything you need to actually get into them. No English degree, no prior reading experience, no guilt required. IN THIS EPISODEThe case for classics: why every modern story you love is already in conversation with themMyth-busting: slow, boring, too hard, missed your chance — we address every excuseYour personality-based guide: which classic is right for YOUPractical strategies: annotated editions, audiobooks, reading companions, and when to quitThe re-read phenomenon: why classics reward you differently at different life stagesThe Brit Lit Starter Pack: five books, in order of accessibilityBOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE*Disclosure: Links below are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — which helps keep The Brit Lit Book Club running. Thank you! The Starter Pack — My Five Recommended Entry Points 1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens The perfect warm-up. Short, emotional, funny, and full of Dickens at his most generous and human. Read it in an afternoon. ➜ Penguin Classics (Paperback, with other Christmas writings) → ➜ Penguin Christmas Classics (Hardcover gift edition) → 2. Persuasion by Jane Austen Her shortest, quietest, most moving novel — and my personal favourite. A love story about second chances with one of the most beautiful letters in all of literature. ➜ Penguin Classics (Paperback) → 3. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins A proper Victorian thriller — multiple narrators, a sinister count, and a mystery that keeps you guessing. Highly readable and genuinely gripping. ➜ Penguin Classics (Paperback) → 4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë One of the great feminist novels — a heroine who refuses to compromise herself for anyone. Still radical more than 175 years later. ➜ Penguin Classics (Paperback) → 5. Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy Hardy's most accessible and most beautiful novel. The Dorset countryside practically breathes on the page. Start here and you'll want to read everything he wrote. ➜ Penguin Classics (Paperback) → Also Mentioned in This Episode Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen — Amazon → Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë — Amazon → The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë — Amazon → The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins — Amazon → Rob Roy by Sir Walter Scott — Amazon → Waverley by Sir Walter Scott — Amazon → A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens — Amazon → A Christmas Carol (also mentioned above) — Amazon → Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

She sold over two billion books. Her play The Mousetrap has run in London's West End for more than seventy years without a single break. And she once vanished for eleven days in a mystery that has never been solved. Dame Agatha Christie wasn't just writing cozy puzzles — she was a brilliant psychologist, a sharp social observer, and quite possibly the most commercially successful novelist who ever lived. In this episode of The Brit Lit Book Club, we're diving deep into the life and legacy of the undisputed Queen of Crime. Host Vanessa Hunt takes you behind the stories — from Christie's childhood in the elegant seaside town of Torquay to the heartbreak of 1926 (the year her mother died, her husband confessed to an affair, and she mysteriously disappeared), to her unexpectedly happy second act with archaeologist husband Max Mallowan in the deserts of Iraq and Syria. We visit Greenway House, Christie's beloved Georgian manor on the River Dart. We ride the sea tractor to Burgh Island — the Art Deco island that inspired And Then There Were None and Evil Under the Sun. We swim in the cove. We eat the lobster. We also explore what makes her two great detectives — the methodical Hercule Poirot and the deceptively sharp Miss Marple — so enduringly brilliant, and why Christie's "genre fiction" has outlasted nearly every literary prize winner of her era. Whether you're a lifelong Christie devotee or you've never cracked a mystery novel in your life, this episode will send you straight to your bookshelf. In this episode: The girl who taught herself to read at four (against her mother's wishes)What working as a WWI nurse taught her about poison — and fictionThe 1926 disappearance: fugue state, breakdown, or something more calculated?The Golden Age of Detective Fiction and why Christie broke every ruleBurgh Island, the sea tractor, and Christie's most audacious novelWhy two billion readers can't put her down — and why you won't either📚 Books Mentioned in This Episode Start here if you're new to Christie: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie — Ten strangers. A sinister nursery rhyme. No way off the island. Her most Gothic, most audacious, most chilling novel.Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie — A snowbound train, a dead man, and every passenger a suspect. One of the most shocking endings in all of detective fiction.Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie — Set directly on Burgh Island. You can trace the action across the actual landscape.More Christie classics: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie — The plot twist that shocked the literary world in 1926 and still lands nearly a century later.Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie — Set at a house just like Greenway, with a boathouse murder that will feel very familiar if you've visited.Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie — Inspired by real people Christie met on the digs in Iraq.Come, Tell Me How You Live by Agatha Christie — Her warm, funny memoir of life on the archaeological digs with Max. Nothing like her mysteries — and that's the whole point.For the biography: Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley — Sharp, thoroughly researched, and deeply compelling. Worsley makes the case that Christie was far more modern and subversive than anyone gave her credit for.Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

What if the most beloved children's story in the English language was actually about grief? In this episode of The Brit Lit Book Club, we're exploring the extraordinary life of Scottish author J.M. Barrie — the man behind Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Neverland, and Captain Hook — and the devastating true story that inspired one of literature's most enduring characters. We cover it all: the childhood tragedy that shaped Barrie's imagination, the real-life family of five brothers who became the Lost Boys, the dark fate of the Llewelyn Davies boys, and why Peter Pan — for all its magic and adventure — is really a story about the cost of never growing up. Plus my kids are currently in a production of the musical, which means this episode has been living in my house for weeks. And that, as always, is exactly how the best rabbit holes begin. In this episode: Who was J.M. Barrie and why did he spend his childhood trying to become his dead brotherThe five real boys who inspired the Lost Boys — and what became of themWhy Peter Pan is one of the saddest characters in British literatureThe Kensington Gardens statue that still has flowers left at its baseThe Scottish literary tradition that shaped Barrie's imagination — and why it mattersWhy Barrie left the rights to Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital for ChildrenThis week's tea pairing: Fairy Dust tea from Bird and Blend  📚 Reading List & Resources: Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie (the 1911 novel — not the play, not the Disney version, the real one) →  J.M. Barrie and the Lost Boys: The Real Story Behind Peter Pan by Andrew Birkin — the definitive biography, written with access to letters, diaries, and recorded interviews with the family. If this episode moves you, read this next.  Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

What does it mean to fall through time and land in history class? If you've ever stayed up until 2am turning pages of Outlander, convinced you could practically smell the heather and hear the clash of broadswords at Culloden, today's guest has a very official explanation for why that happened — and a doctorate to back it up. Dr. Alex Dold is a public historian, literary scholar, tour guide, and "Doctor of Outlander." Based in Scotland, Alex completed her PhD at the University of the Highlands and Islands with a thesis arguing that Diana Gabaldon's Outlander novels function as a genuine form of public history — shaping how millions of readers around the world understand 18th-century Scotland, the Jacobite rising of 1745, and Highland culture. She also contributed two chapters to the newly released academic collection Outlander and Scotland: Touchstones and Signposts (Luath Press, 2025), leads literary walking tours in Glasgow, and speaks at fan conventions and universities alike. In this episode, Vanessa and Alex talk about: How a reader in Germany became Scotland's foremost Outlander scholarWhat "public history" means — and why it matters that Outlander qualifiesThe real-world impact Outlander tourism has had on Scottish heritage sitesWhat Alex told Diana Gabaldon when she finally met her in personAnd why you should never, ever be embarrassed that a romance novel sent you down a Scottish history rabbit holeWhether you've read all nine books, just finished the series, or you're a Scotland-dreamer planning your own literary pilgrimage, this episode will make you love the Highlands even more. 📚 Books mentioned in this episode: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Outlander and Scotland: Touchstones and Signposts  — Alex's own book! The academic collection she contributed two chapters to. A must-have for any serious Outlander fan. ⚔️ Damn Rebel Bitches: The Women of '45  by Maggie Craig — The real women of the Jacobite rising of 1745. If Claire Fraser makes you want more, this is your book. ✉️ Burt's Letters from the North of Scotland by Edward Burt — A fascinating firsthand account of 18th-century Highland life from an English officer stationed in Scotland. Primary source gold for Outlander readers. ⏳ Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor — If you love the idea of time-traveling historians getting into trouble, this series is your next obsession. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Ready to walk in Jamie and Claire's footsteps? Join us on the Scottish Book Club Tour, June 22–29, 2027 — a small-group literary journey through the Highlands with your fellow book lovers. Visit thebookclubtour.com to learn more and reserve your spot. Connect with Alex: 🌐 alexdold.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex.dold.historian Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

Sir Walter Scott - The Man Who Invented Scotland If you've ever lost yourself in the Highland landscapes of Outlander, stood misty-eyed at a ruined Scottish castle, or felt your heart catch at the sight of a man in a kilt, you have Walter Scott to thank for that. In this episode of The Brit Lit Book Club, we're exploring one of the most influential authors in literary history: Sir Walter Scott, the Edinburgh-born lawyer who essentially invented the historical novel, manufactured the Highland Revival, and handed the entire world the romantic Scotland we know and love today. We're talking about his extraordinary life, from childhood on the Scottish Borders absorbing ballads and folk tales, to becoming the most famous author on the planet. We're unpacking Waverley, Rob Roy, The Heart of Midlothian, and Ivanhoe, and I'm giving you a clear on-ramp for where to start reading. And we're digging into the fascinating, complicated question of what it means when a writer's fiction becomes more powerful than historical reality. Because Scott's did, and we are still living in the world he imagined. This episode is also the perfect literary prelude to next week, when I sit down with historian Alex Dold to explore the real history behind the romance. 🍵 Tea Pairing: Scottish Breakfast, Taylors of Harrogate Scottish Blend 📚 Books Mentioned: Waverley by Sir Walter ScottRob Roy by Sir Walter ScottThe Heart of Midlothian by Sir Walter ScottIvanhoe by Sir Walter Scott🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Dreaming of Scotland? Join us on the Scottish Book Club Tour, June 22–29, 2027 → thebookclubtour.com Perfect for fans of: Outlander, Diana Gabaldon, Scottish historical fiction, British literature, literary travel, Highland history, Jacobite history, Jane Austen era fiction Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

What if the most profound literature isn't found in dark Gothic mansions or dramatic tragedy, but in the everyday work of a country veterinarian making rounds through the Yorkshire Dales? In this episode of The Brit Lit Book Club, we're heading north to meet James Herriot, the pen name of Alf Wight, whose warm and witty memoirs have comforted millions of readers around the world for over fifty years. We explore how a working vet from Thirsk became one of the 20th century's most beloved authors, why the Yorkshire Dales are so much more than a pretty backdrop in his stories, and what Herriot's celebration of ordinary life, meaningful work, and rural community has to say to modern readers. We also talk about the gorgeous new BBC remake of All Creatures Great and Small — and yes, I share how you can visit Grassington, the village where it was filmed, and hike through the Dales yourself on the British Book Club Tour. Whether you're a lifelong Herriot fan or discovering him for the first time, this episode will send you straight to your bookshelf. 📚 Books Mentioned in This Episode: James Herriot: All Creatures Great and Small ← Start hereAll Things Bright and BeautifulAll Things Wise and WonderfulThe Lord God Made Them AllFor Deeper Context: The Real James Herriot by Jim WightNotes from a Small Island by Bill BrysonIf You Love Herriot, Try These: Cider with Rosie by Laurie LeeLark Rise to Candleford by Flora ThompsonLove this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

Anne Brontë – The Forgotten Sister  She's been called the forgotten Brontë — overshadowed by Charlotte's Jane Eyre and Emily's Wuthering Heights, dismissed as the quietest and least talented of the three sisters. But Anne Brontë may have been the most radical Victorian novelist of her generation. In this episode of The Brit Lit Book Club, we're finally giving Anne the spotlight she deserves — exploring how the youngest Brontë sister wrote unflinchingly about domestic abuse, alcoholism, and a woman's right to leave a dangerous marriage at a time when doing so was nearly illegal. From her gritty governess realism in Agnes Grey to the groundbreaking feminist fury of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Anne Brontë tackled subjects so controversial that even her own sister Charlotte suppressed her work after her death. If you've ever loved the Brontës, this episode will change the way you think about all three of them. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why Anne Brontë is considered "the forgotten Brontë" — and why that reputation is completely undeservedHow Anne's years working as a governess shaped the unflinching realism of her fictionWhat makes Agnes Grey a quietly radical feminist novel — and how it differs from Jane Eyre despite sharing a governess heroineThe shocking plot of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and why Victorian critics called it "utterly unfit" for young womenHow Anne's firsthand experience watching her brother Branwell's alcoholism shaped her groundbreaking portrayal of addiction — decades ahead of modern understandingWhy The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was a bestseller that then virtually disappeared from literary historyWhy Charlotte Brontë made the controversial decision to suppress her sister's most important novelAnne's theological independence and how her belief in universal salvation challenged established church doctrineHow The Tenant of Wildfell Hall speaks directly to modern conversations about domestic abuse, economic dependence, and women leaving dangerous relationshipsWhy Anne Brontë deserves to stand alongside — and perhaps above — her more famous sistersBooks Mentioned & Recommended: Anne Brontë's Novels: Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë (Penguin Classics edition)The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë (Penguin Classics edition)Biographies: Take Courage: Anne Brontë and the Art of Life by Samantha EllisIn Search of Anne Brontë by Nick HollandCritical & Scholarly Reading: The Brontës by Juliet BarkerThe Brontës and Religion by Marianne ThormählenAnne Brontë: The Other One by Elizabeth LanglandCompanion Reading: Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell (read alongside The Tenant of Wildfell Hall to see how Victorian women writers approached social transgression differently)Walk the Moors That Inspired the Brontës If this episode has you longing to stand on the windswept moors of Haworth, visit the Brontë Parsonage Museum, and experience the world that shaped Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, I'd love to take you there. The Book Club Tour offers small-group literary travel to Britain's most beloved literary destinations — including the Yorkshire moors and Brontë Parsonage. Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

The Brit Lit Book Club - Daphne du Maurier: The Woman Behind Rebecca Discover the dark, complex world of Daphne du Maurier, one of the 20th century's most brilliant and misunderstood writers. Join host Vanessa Hunt as she explores the life and legacy of the author who gave us one of literature's most famous opening lines. What You'll Learn: The fascinating, complicated life of Daphne du Maurier and her secret relationshipsWhy Rebecca is one of the greatest Gothic novels ever writtenThe Female Gothic tradition from the Brontës to modern psychological thrillersHow Cornwall shaped du Maurier's imagination and dark storytellingThe real Menabilly estate that inspired the haunting ManderleyDu Maurier's other masterpieces: Jamaica Inn, The Birds, My Cousin Rachel, and Don't Look NowPerfect for fans of Gothic literature, psychological thrillers, British classics, literary history, and anyone who loves atmospheric storytelling. Whether you're a longtime Rebecca devotee or discovering du Maurier for the first time, this episode reveals the radical writer behind the romance. Ideal for: Book club members, Gothic fiction enthusiasts, fans of Gillian Flynn and Kate Morton, literary travelers, women's literature lovers, and anyone interested in Cornwall, classic British authors, psychological suspense, and the greatest female writers of the 20th century. 📚 BOOKS RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: Essential Du Maurier: Rebecca by Daphne du MaurierMy Cousin Rachel by Daphne du MaurierJamaica Inn by Daphne du MaurierThe Birds and Other Stories by Daphne du MaurierBiography: Daphne du Maurier: The Secret Life of the Renowned Storyteller by Margaret ForsterThe Gothic Tradition: Jane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëThe Woman in White by Wilkie CollinsModern Gothic Heirs: The House at Riverton by Kate MortonThe Distant Hours by Kate MortonGone Girl by Gillian FlynnCornwall: The Sea's in the Kitchen by Denys Val Baker (out of print, but may be at your library or used book store)Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

What if the book club wasn't just a cozy tradition, but one of the most powerful tools for change in women's history? In this episode of the Brit Lit Book Club, we trace the story of women's reading communities from the salons of ancient Greece and 18th-century France all the way to Oprah's Book Club and BookTok, and uncover just how much of the world women built from a circle of chairs and a shared book. We explore the founding of Sorosis in 1868, born from a woman being turned away from a Charles Dickens dinner. We dive into the Black women's literary clubs of the 19th century, including the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs and their unforgettable motto, Lifting As We Climb.  We look at how suffragists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton called the women's club "the school of politics for women." And we spend time in our beloved Britain — with the Brontës on the Yorkshire moors, Jane Austen in Bath, and Agatha Christie in Devon, tracing the radical literary tradition that runs through the very landscapes we explore on the Book Club Tour. This is the first episode in our Women's History Month series. More episodes coming all month long. In This Episode: The ancient roots of communal reading — from Greek symposiums to Roman litteratiThe women who ran the literary salons of 17th and 18th century FranceHow working-class reading societies in Britain crowdfunded libraries before crowdfunding existedThe founding of Sorosis (1868) and the General Federation of Women's Clubs — over a million members strongThe Black women's literary clubs that fought lynching, built schools, and changed AmericaHow the suffrage movement grew directly from the women's club movementThe Brontë sisters, Jane Austen, and Agatha Christie as literary revolutionariesOprah's Book Club, Goodreads, and BookTok — the tradition continuesHow the Book Club Tour carries this tradition forward todayMentioned in This Episode: Sorosis — founded by Jane Cunningham Croly, 1868The General Federation of Women's ClubsThe National Association of Colored Women's Clubs — founded 1896, Mary Church TerrellIda B. Wells & Anna Julia CooperBenjamin Franklin's Junto (1727)Pandita RamabaiThe Brontë sisters — Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Tenant of Wildfell HallJane Austen — Persuasion, the Pump Room in BathAgatha Christie — Devon & the Jane Austen & Agatha Christie TourOprah's Book Club — Toni Morrison's Song of SolomonReese Witherspoon's Book ClubBookTokUpcoming Book Club Tours: 🇬🇧 British Book Club Tour — July 2026 & June 2027🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish Book Club Tour — June 2027🇫🇷 French Book Club Tour — July 2027Visit thebookclubtour.com to learn more or book your spot. Custom trips for your own book club are also available! Connect With Us: Instagram: @thebookclubtourWebsite: thebookclubtour.comIf you loved this episode, please leave a review — it helps more British literature lovers find the show! Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

What does it take to write one of the most enduring novels in human history at eighteen years old, in the middle of a volcanic winter, surrounded by grief? In this episode of the Brit Lit Book Club, we dive deep into Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, tracing the extraordinary life behind one of Gothic literature's greatest masterworks. We explore Mary's radical inheritance: daughter of pioneering feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and philosopher William Godwin — and the personal tragedies that shaped her obsession with creation, loss, and the desperate wish to undo death. We journey to the shores of Lake Geneva, where the stormy summer of 1816 gave birth to the famous ghost story competition and, ultimately, to the spark of Frankenstein itself. Along the way, we discuss why the creature is not the villain of this novel, how Mary Shelley invented science fiction while drawing on the very real and very fashionable science of Galvanism, and why the 1931 Boris Karloff film, brilliant as it is, robbed the creature of his most essential quality: his eloquence. We also look at Frankenstein's extraordinary legacy, from the National Theatre's 2011 Benedict Cumberbatch production to its DNA running through every conversation we're currently having about artificial intelligence and the ethics of creation. That question has never felt more urgent. In this episode: Mary Wollstonecraft's radical legacy and its influence on FrankensteinThe Year Without a Summer and the Villa Diodati ghost story competitionWhy the 1818 first edition differs — and why it mattersThe feminist and humanist reading of the creatureGothic literature's origins and how Mary Shelley transformed the traditionLiterary pilgrimage sites related to Mary ShelleyPerfect for: fans of Gothic literature, British literary history, feminist literary criticism, science fiction origins, the Romantic era, and literary travel. 📚 Reading List Start Here: Frankenstein: The 1818 Text (Penguin Classics) — Mary Shelley The original, unrevised edition — rawer, more radical, and more interesting than the commonly reprinted 1831 version. This Penguin edition includes an introduction by Charlotte Gordon and notes that place Mary in a feminist literary legacy. Biography: Mary Shelley — Miranda Seymour The gold-standard life of Shelley. Thoroughly researched and beautifully written — the kind of biography that reads like a novel and leaves you feeling you've lost a friend when it's over. Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley — Charlotte Gordon A National Book Critics Circle Award winner that tells the story of both mother and daughter in alternating chapters — two women who never knew each other but shared a literary and feminist legacy. This one will absolutely wreck you in the best way possible. The Gothic Tradition: The Mysteries of Udolpho (Penguin Classics) — Ann Radcliffe The Gothic novel that defined the genre before Mary Shelley came along and revolutionized it. Atmospheric, suspenseful, and surprisingly modern in its psychological depth. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Dover Thrift Editions) — Robert Louis Stevenson The perfect companion piece to Frankenstein — another Victorian scientist who meddles with the boundaries of human nature and destroys himself in the process. Read them together for a masterclass in how the Gothic tradition evolved across the 19th century. The Source: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (Penguin Classics) — Mary Wollstonecraft To understand where Frankenst Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

Starting a Classics Book Club: Tips, Traditions & Literary Travel with Keri & Liz  Have you ever dreamed of starting a classics book club but didn't know where to begin? In this episode, I sit down with two friends who started my personal book club, Keri & Liz, to talk all things classic literature and the magic that happens when readers gather around great books. Keri and Liz share how their classics book club got started, how they recruit and retain members, and what a typical meeting actually looks like — from how they choose their reads to what happens when someone hasn't finished the book (we've all been there!). We dig into why classic literature still matters in today's world, which books sparked the most passionate debates in her group, and how timeless stories connect to our modern lives in ways we never expected. We also tackle the harder conversations — navigating uncomfortable themes in classic texts, managing group dynamics, and keeping a book club thriving year after year. And then we get to the really exciting part: Keri and Liz have actually traveled to England with The Book Club Tour, and they share how experiencing the real landscapes, homes, and villages behind beloved books completely transformed the way they read. If you've ever wondered whether a literary travel experience is worth it, this episode will answer that question. Whether you're a seasoned book club host or dreaming of starting one from scratch, this episode is packed with practical advice, genuine inspiration, and a healthy dose of literary wanderlust. Interested in combining your love of classic literature with travel? Visit thebookclubtour.com to learn more about our immersive literary tours to England. In this episode we cover: How to start and grow a classics book clubWhy classic literature is more relevant than everBook club meeting formats, discussion tips & member dynamicsNavigating difficult themes in classic textsHow literary travel deepens your connection to the books you loveThe Book Club Tour experience in EnglandLove this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour

Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights (2026) has arrived and the internet has opinions. So do I. In this episode of The Brit Lit Book Club, we're stepping away from the page and into the cinema to review the most talked-about British literary adaptation of the year. Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, Fennell's film was never meant to be a faithful retelling, by her own admission, it's her response to Emily Brontë's novel, built from memory and feeling rather than faithful reconstruction.  But does artistic freedom have limits? And what happens when the details an adaptation chooses to leave out aren't details at all, but the story's entire moral foundation? We cover it all: what the film gets genuinely right, what it loses by erasing and the novel's second generation, why Isabella's arc matters more than audiences may realize, and why the whitewashing of Heathcliff (however common in other adaptations) is not something we can brush past in 2026. We also sit with the bigger question the novel has always been asking: why do we romanticize love that hurts? And what does it mean that Wuthering Heights was exploring toxic love long before we had language for it? Whether you've seen the film, read the book, or just found your way to Emily Brontë through the movie buzz, this one's for you. Love this podcast? Imagine walking the Yorkshire moors where the Brontës found inspiration, visiting Jane Austen's writing desk at Chawton, and exploring Shakespeare's birthplace with fellow book lovers. We do all this and more on The Book Club Tour! Follow along with our adventures, or join us!  🌐 Explore our tours: thebookclubtour.com 📸 Instagram: @thebookclubtour 👥 Facebook: @thebookclubtour