Few literary terms are more hotly debated, discounted, or derided than the "Great American Novel." But while critics routinely dismiss the phrase as at best hype and as at worst exclusionary, the belief that a national literature commensurate with both the scope and the contradictions of being American persists. In this podcast Scott Yarbrough and Kirk Curnutt examine totemic works such as Herman Melville's Moby-Dick and Toni Morrison's Beloved that have been labeled GANs, exploring their themes, forms, and reception histories, asking why, when, and how they entered the literary canon. Readers beware: there be spoilers here, and other hijinks ensue...
Great American Novel
Claim This Podcastby Scott Yarbrough and Kirk Curnutt
4.9(240 reviews)
37 episodes
Updated Bi-weekly
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
30
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality23
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement92
Podcast Overview
Few literary terms are more hotly debated, discounted, or derided than the "Great American Novel." But while critics routinely dismiss the phrase as at best hype and as at worst exclusionary, the belief that a national literature commensurate with both the scope and the contradictions of being American persists. In this podcast Scott Yarbrough and Kirk Curnutt examine totemic works such as Herman Melville's Moby-Dick and Toni Morrison's Beloved that have been labeled GANs, exploring their themes, forms, and reception histories, asking why, when, and how they entered the literary canon. Readers beware: there be spoilers here, and other hijinks ensue...
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
3/31/2021
Unlock The Full Podcast Authority Score Report
See how your podcast performs across key metrics
30
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality23
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement92
6
Excellent Areas
2
Good Performance
11
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Episode Length
1h 21m
Performing excellently!
good
Show Notes Quality
3.0/5
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
poor
Publishing Consistency
Every 46 days
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
+16 More Metrics
Unlock comprehensive insights including:
- • YouTube presence analysis
- • Social media reach metrics
- • RSS compliance scoring
- • Podcast 2.0 features
- • Technical standards
What's Included in Your Full Report
Detailed Analytics
- Complete breakdown of all 19 authority metrics
- Personalized recommendations for each metric
- Industry benchmarks and comparisons
- Technical RSS feed analysis and compliance scoring
Growth Strategies
- Step-by-step action plans for improvement
- Quick wins to boost your score immediately
- Pro tips from successful podcasters
Get your free podcast insights report
See how your show performs across every key metric
Instant delivery
No spam
Attract Better Guests
High authority scores make your podcast more attractive to industry leaders and influencers who want to appear on credible shows.
Secure Sponsorships
Sponsors look for podcasts with proven authority and engagement. Your score demonstrates your podcast's value to potential partners.
Grow Your Audience
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses helps you make data-driven decisions to expand your listener base effectively.
Reach the team behind Great American Novel
Verified contact details for this show aren't on file yet — sign up to get notified when they land.
Recent Episodes
December 26, 2025
Engaging the Existential in Walker Percy's THE MOVIEGOER
Send us a text Walker Percy's 1961 debut novel The Moviegoer---which shocked the literary world when it came out of nowhere to win the National Book Award against some stiff competition---may strike contemporary readers as an elusive novel. The first-person, present-tense voice feels contemporary enough, but the narrator, the New Orleans stockbroker John Bickerson "Binx" Bolling, isn't a rebel without a cause, a Bohemian adventurer, or an angry young man like many heroes of the Eisenhowe...
November 4, 2025
Episode 36: Burning Down the Days with THE FLAMETHROWERS by Rachel Kushner
Send us a text It’s 1976. A woman named Reno in leather motorcycle gear descends upon the Bonneville Salt Flats on a state of the art Moto Valera motorcycle. Is speed her goal? Is it the land art created by her tracks across the flats? Is her rolling crash meant to serve as a metaphor for the next two year of her life? In this episode your intrepid hosts return to an era and setting that at least one of them never particularly wanted to visit: the art scene of New York in th...
August 10, 2025
Episode 35: Escaping War for Love in Ernest Hemingway's A FAREWELL TO ARMS
Send us a text Ernest Hemingway's 1929 novel A Farewell to Arms is probably the most famous war novel in American literary history. Inspired by his own wounding on the Italian front shortly before his nineteenth birthday, Hemingway tells the story of a disillusioned American serving in a foreign army, Frederic Henry, who falls in love with a Red Cross nurse, Catherine Barkley, shortly before the disastrous rout the Italians suffered at Caporetto in late 1917, which Frederic barely s...
37 total episodes available
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
The History of Literature
Jacke Wilson / The Podglomerate
Reading McCarthy
Scott Yarbrough and Guest Hosts
Backlisted
Backlisted
Overdue
Headgum
Hermitix
Hermitix
Close Readings
London Review of Books
Common Sense with Dan Carlin
Dan Carlin
The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey
Culture Gabfest
Slate Podcasts
Literature and History
Doug Metzger
The New Yorker Radio Hour
WNYC Studios and The New Yorker
We Hate Movies
WHM Entertainment
Weird Studies
SpectreVision Radio
You'll Hear It
Peter Martin & Adam Maness
Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry
David Naimon, Milkweed Editions
Deep-dive analytics for Great American Novel
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Great American Novel?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates bi-weekly.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 10 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.