Podcast Summary: Adam Bremer-McCollum on The Pearlsong

Podcast: New Books Network – New Books in Late Antiquity (Presented by Ancient Jew Review)
Host: Lydia Bramer McCollum
Guest: Dr. Adam Bremer-McCollum, philologist, author, and Research Associate at Harvard Divinity School's Center for the Study of World Religions
Episode Date: October 10, 2025
Topic: Discussion of Dr. Adam Bremer-McCollum’s The Pearlsong and the new book series Texts and Translations of Transcendence and Transformation (4T)

1. Episode Overview

This episode spotlights Adam Bremer-McCollum’s newly published book The Pearlsong (Harvard UP, 2025) and the ambitious launch of the 4T book series published by Harvard Divinity School’s Center for the Study of World Religions. The conversation explores the creation, materiality, and vision of the book and series, delves deeply into the content and interpretive context of The Pearlsong, and reflects on broader scholarly and personal approaches to ancient texts, translation, and multilingualism in Late Antiquity.

2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introducing The Pearlsong and Series Vision

• Bremer-McCollum introduces The Pearlsong as a beautifully produced dual-language book with new translation, commentary, and a rich array of appendices. It is the inaugural volume of the 4T series, which aims at open-access and affordable, finely printed editions of transformative ancient texts (00:01–05:00).
• The series is designed for broad accessibility (free PDF, reasonably priced print), intended for both scholars and the general public, with a special emphasis on providing original texts alongside English translations for language learners and teachers (05:00–10:00).

The Material Book: Design and Accessibility

• Typesetting for the books is done in LaTeX, usually more common in STEM than humanities, which ensures high-quality aesthetics (06:42).
• The print edition features thick paper, a sturdy soft cover, artistically bespoke covers for each volume, and themed endpapers (a dragon and a pearl). Physical design is integral to the reading pleasure (06:42–08:18).
• Price point is kept accessible at $40, with plans for even cheaper volumes for shorter works in the series (08:18–09:20).

The 4T Series Approach to Texts & Translations

• The series intentionally models itself on venerable dual-language library series but aims to break out of language silos (e.g., only Latin or Greek) to include a wide range of late-antique languages. Future volumes are expected to include Greek, Syriac, Coptic, Parthian, and more, facilitating cross-cultural exploration (09:57–14:22).
• Glossaries are included to support learners and reflect the style of the respective scholar-translator. Some texts are also newly re-edited from manuscript sources, not just retranslated (09:57–14:22).

The Content and Nature of The Pearlsong

• The Pearlsong is a translation of a storied ancient poem often called the “Hymn of the Pearl” or “Hymn of the Soul,” but Bremer-McCollum justifies his renaming, emphasizing its function as a “song”—not a hymn of praise but a recited story (16:36).
• The tale revolves around a royal child sent from Parthia to Egypt on a quest for a pearl guarded by a fearsome dragon/snake. Key story elements include the child’s loss of memory, an intervention letter from the parents, a magical retrieval of the pearl, and his eventual return home, adorned once more in his “shining garment” (16:36–28:30).

Memorable Quote:

“To me, there's a lot more possibility of meaning in the story if we treat it as a story and just a story, and don't say, ‘Well, it has to be this Gnostic myth or blah blah, or it has to be something else.’ ... There's no—it's not even really patently religious in any way on the surface. It's a story.”
— Adam Bremer-McCollum (18:08)

• The narrative’s structure, lack of explicit religious index, and allegorical openness make it a useful test case for the complexity and cultural permeation of narratives in Late Antiquity.

Transmission, Textual Context, and Polyglossia

• The Pearlsong only exists in one Syriac manuscript and one Greek manuscript of the Acts of Thomas; Bremer-McCollum argues it was likely a later addition to Acts of Thomas, with verbal echoes linking it across several traditions (30:23–32:49).
• The volume includes multiple recensions: the Syriac, the Greek (from the Acts), and an 11th-century Greek homily-retelling by Niketas of Thessaloniki—all presented with facing-page English translations and separate glossaries (32:49–34:10).

Memorable Quote:

"If you're just a Greek student and you're like, I don't care about Syriac, these two texts...you've got a late ancient text from whatever, second, third century, and then you got this Byzantine text from the 11th century."
— Adam Bremer-McCollum (33:29)

• The book foregrounds multilingualism: commentary and footnotes feature around 20 ancient and modern languages (Aramaic, Coptic, Parthian, Arabic, etc.), not only fostering comparative work but highlighting the linguistic landscape of Late Antiquity (35:19–37:48).

Memorable Quote:

“Languages are cool. We like looking at languages even if we don't know them, right? ... I wanted to really, really let these multilingual possibilities show up in the Pearl Song.”
— Adam Bremer-McCollum (36:09)

Translation as Research & Citation Practices

• Bremer-McCollum handled all translations himself (except for one Odyssey excerpt by Emily Wilson), emphasizing translation as a research act—a mode of study, synthesis, and contribution (37:48–38:46).
• The commentary is intentionally wide-ranging and conversational in citation, drawing on sources from ancient inscriptions and Old English poems to contemporary songs (Mountain Goats, Grateful Dead, Shangri-Las) as resonant with the text’s themes (40:25–44:52).

Memorable Quote:

"I quoted some, you know, a number of songs. I love music. ... To me, this was like in the Pearl Song, in the letter from the parents when they're saying, 'Hey, wake up kid. Remember this stuff.' And again, it worked."
— Adam Bremer-McCollum (43:35)

• The method models personal, creative, and affect-driven approaches, inviting readers to situate themselves within the story’s interpretive chain.

Why The Pearlsong Matters for Late Antiquity

• The Pearlsong embodies the multilingual, culturally porous nature of the period, and the book’s extensive apparatus makes visible the real historical movement of texts and motifs across boundaries (47:18–48:46).
• Appendices also gather a wide range of ancient pearl lore and related texts, offering a bibliophile’s and philologist’s delight (49:04).

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I call it a song still, so that's kind of cheating. But Walt Whitman had the Song of Myself, which also doesn't have music." (16:52)
• "The letter itself speaks. ... The letter flies and then talks and does the trick. It wakes him up in Egypt." (27:10)
• "Languages are cool. We like looking at languages even if we don't know them, right?" (36:09)
• "I wanted the commentary to be a little bit more conversational ... not necessarily limited to academic texts... so I cite the Mountain Goats, White Snake, Grateful Dead, Toto, and as you mentioned, the Shangri-Las." (41:20)
• "It's a pretty solid reminder of how multilingual Late Antiquity was. Translation and linguistic, textual migration was a very, very normal thing." (47:18)

4. Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:01–05:00 – Introduction to guest, book, and the 4T series vision
• 06:42–08:18 – Detailed discussion of book production, materiality, and design
• 09:57–14:22 – Philosophies of dual-language series and utility for learners
• 16:36–28:30 – Deep dive into the content and structure of The Pearlsong
• 30:45–33:11 – Textual transmission & integration in the Acts of Thomas
• 34:10–37:48 – Polyglot nature of the commentary and series approach
• 40:25–44:52 – Citation practices: academic, literary, and musical references
• 46:06 – Creation of a Pearlsong soundtrack
• 47:18–49:04 – The book’s value for scholars of Late Antiquity; appendix on pearl lore
• 49:46–51:28 – Future projects: The Great Letter of Evagrius, Arabic cannabis texts

5. The Mood & Tone

Adam Bremer-McCollum’s approach blends deep philological expertise with an accessible, poetic, and at times playful touch. He places high value on material beauty, reading pleasures, and the productive—rather than prescriptive—ambiguity of ancient stories. The host’s warmth brings out both the scholarly rigor and human delight animating the project.

6. Looking Forward

Bremer-McCollum is working on further 4T volumes, including a new edition/translation of Evagrius’ “Letter to Melania” and a collection of Arabic texts about cannabis. The series promises ever-wider linguistic, historical, and cultural exploration—continuing the open, inviting ethos established by The Pearlsong.

For listeners and readers seeking exposure to the layered, polyglot, and often wondrous world of Late Antiquity, and for those who cherish the interplay of story, language, and material book, this episode and its featured volume are essential browsing.