The Literary Life Podcast – Episode 288: Literary Milestones

Released August 5, 2025

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Literary Life Podcast
• Hosts: Angelina Stanford & Thomas Banks
• Guest: Cindy Rollins
• Description: Engaging conversations about the skill and art of reading well, exploring the lost intellectual traditions necessary to fully immerse in great works of literature.

Introduction

In Episode 288, titled "Literary Milestones," hosts Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks, along with lifelong reader Cindy Rollins, delve into the pivotal moments that mark a reader's journey. The episode transcends typical book discussions, focusing instead on the profound milestones that signify growth and deepening understanding in one's literary life.

Summer Updates and Ongoing Classes

[01:50] Angelina Stanford:
Angelina opens the episode by reflecting on the swift passage of summer, briefly diverting from the main topic. She proudly highlights the array of summer classes they've offered, emphasizing their dedication to maintaining intellectual rigor even during the slower months. Notable courses include:

• Angelina's Two-Week Mini Class: Harry Potter Books 4 and 5
  "I honestly think that is some of the best work I have ever done."
  [03:58]

• Thomas Banks' Week-Long Class: Victorian Lives
  Explores literary, historical, political, and military figures of the Victorian era, receiving excellent feedback for its engaging content.
  "It was a fun class to prepare for because I was reading stuff that I really enjoy."
  [04:12]

• Jason Baxter's Four-Week Class: How to Read Lyric Poetry like C.S. Lewis
  A popular class that garnered positive responses, aligning with the podcast's emphasis on deep literary analysis.
  "Also a hit."
  [05:46]

Upcoming offerings include:

• Addison Hornstra's Week-Long Class: A Dream Both Strange and True – The Alice Books
  A deep dive into Lewis Carroll's work, sparked by widespread demand following a successful webinar.
  "This will be five sessions with Addison on the Alice books."
  [04:55]

• Heather Goodman's Webinar: Coleridge's Imagination: Restoring the Chain of Being
  Set for August 27th, this webinar aims to spotlight Coleridge's profound influence on literary tradition and his role in bridging medieval and modern imaginative thought.
  "It's really impossible, I think, to overstate his influence."
  [07:28]

Angelina encourages listeners to explore these offerings on their website, HouseOfHumaneLetters.com, and to engage with their member-supported platforms.

Commonplace Quotes

The hosts transition to their segment on commonplace quotes, sharing profound insights that resonate with their literary discussions.

Thomas Banks' Quote:
“The Middle Ages did almost wholly without critics and by some miracle did quite well without.” – Frank Lucas, The Decline and Fall of the Romantic Ideal
[10:23]

Thomas elaborates on the unique nature of medieval literary communities, emphasizing the absence of professional critics and how this shaped the literary landscape differently from today.

Angelina Stanford's Quote:
“It's only after we lose the language of art that people begin to write about, you know, what does it mean? And try to interpret it. Most of these people are getting it wrong.” – Adapted from Thomas Merton's Inner Experience
[12:19]

Angelina underscores the erosion of a shared artistic language, highlighting the cultural amnesia that necessitates a conscious effort to reclaim lost intellectual traditions.

Defining Literary Milestones

The heart of the episode revolves around identifying and discussing key literary milestones—significant moments that mark a reader's development and deepening engagement with literature.

1. Selecting and Owning a Book Independently

[19:19] Thomas Banks:
“One. One factor in the life of a teacher. I wonder if this in some ways is an expression of immaturity, but your year is structured kind of like it was when you were a kid, because, I mean, you still.”
[18:50]

Angelina shares her personal experience of selecting and owning books from a young age, emphasizing how parental influence and personal initiative fostered a lifelong love for reading.
“And so that's how I grew up with my own little library at three years old.”
[19:44]

2. Falling in Love with Non-Exciting Books

[27:55] Thomas Banks:
“Where you can sit down and find yourself losing track of time in the presence of something like that.”
[29:13]

The discussion highlights the milestone of appreciating books that may lack conventional excitement but offer profound, lyrical, or pastoral experiences, such as Robert McCloskey's Time of Wonder.
“It's almost like if Marcel Proust had written a children's book and illustrated it in New England.”
[29:42]

3. Arguing with a Book

[33:48] Thomas Banks:
“So, yeah, I remember wanting desperately for John Bunyan to be, you know, just looking for ways in which he was wrong about everything.”
[33:58]

Thomas recounts his contentious early read of Pilgrim's Progress, expressing initial disdain that later evolved into appreciation. This transformation underscores the importance of revisiting and reinterpreting challenging works.
“And now I think that is C.S. Lewis's greatest work.”
[41:07]

4. Rereading and Changing One’s Perspective

[44:24] Thomas Banks:
“But I can say it's a masterpiece. It's absolutely a masterpiece.”
[57:02]

Both hosts share experiences of rereading classics and reassessing their initial judgments, illustrating personal growth and a deeper understanding of literary art over time. Angelina discusses her initial rejection of The Age of Innocence and later appreciation for its depth.
“I had a very negative reaction to that book, and I judged it. And now I can say that the problem was me, not the book.”
[42:16]

5. Separating Subjective Experience from the Work of Art

[36:56] Thomas Banks:
“Everyone reading Paradise Lost for the first time sort of responds this way to Eve.”
[36:05]

Angelina and Thomas explore the critical skill of distinguishing personal biases and emotions from the intrinsic value of a literary work. Angelina emphasizes overlooking outdated portrayals to grasp the universal truths within classics.
“You have to be able to separate those things.”
[37:32]

6. Separating the Work from the Writer

[50:28] Thomas Banks:
“But again, modern readers, they end up responding to a book that only exists in their head.”
[50:30]

The conversation delves into the importance of evaluating literary works independently of the author's personal beliefs or behaviors. They cite examples like Thomas Hardy and George Orwell to illustrate how an author's worldview can contrast with the artistic merit of their work.
“It was a huge milestone for me.”
[55:00]

7. Hearing the Great Conversation Among Books

[74:16] Thomas Banks:
“So eventually, you realize you're in this huge room.”
[74:16] Angelina Stanford:
“So your world will get bigger and you can touch more of it.”
[75:37]

Angelina introduces the concept of the "great conversation" in literature, where books converse with each other across time. This milestone involves recognizing the interconnectedness of literary works and understanding their collective dialogue, enriching one's reading experience.
“You're in a room of windows, and it just goes on and on.”
[82:14]

Conclusion and Upcoming Series

As the discussion winds down, Angelina and Thomas reflect on their journey of literary exploration, embracing both successes and missteps. They announce an upcoming series focusing on American literature, starting with Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence, aiming to apply the discussed milestones to a broader literary context.

Angelina Stanford:
“Stories will save the world.”
[86:22]

The episode concludes with a poetic reflection by Thomas Banks, tying together the themes of literary interconnectedness and spiritual enrichment.

Notable Quotes

• Angelina Stanford:
  “To be enchanted by story is to be granted a deeper insight into reality.”
  [00:00]

• Thomas Banks:
  “The Middle Ages did almost wholly without critics and by some miracle did quite well without.”
  [10:23]

• Angelina Stanford:
  “It's only after we lose the language of art that people begin to write about, you know, what does it mean?”
  [12:19]

• Thomas Banks:
  “Everyone reading Paradise Lost for the first time sort of responds this way to Eve.”
  [36:05]

• Angelina Stanford:
  “You're letting your own subjective feelings block out the eternal light from flowing through the art as it should.”
  [36:56]

Final Thoughts

Episode 288 of The Literary Life Podcast serves as a profound exploration of the milestones that shape a reader's journey. By dissecting personal experiences with literature, the hosts illuminate the transformative power of engaging deeply with literary art. Listeners are encouraged to embrace these milestones, fostering a richer, more interconnected literary life.

To continue nurturing your literary journey, explore their upcoming series on American literature and partake in their member-supported classes and discussions at HouseOfHumaneLetters.com.

This summary was crafted based on the transcript provided and adheres to OpenAI's policies regarding content creation.