Literature and History

About Literature and History

With millions of downloads, hundreds of hours of soundtracked content, and an overall emphasis on the cultural history behind famous works of literature, Literature and History is one of the most popular independent podcasts on its subject. Starting with Sumerian cuneiform in 3,100 BCE, Literature and History moves forward in chronological order through Assyriology, Egyptology, the Old Testament, Ancient Greece and Rome, the birth of Christianity, and the early Middle Ages. The show's current season is on early Islamic history. A typical episode (they average about two hours) features a general introduction to a work of literature, then a full summary of that work that expects no prior knowledge, and finally, an analysis of the cultural, biographical, and historical forces that gave rise to the work in question. Original symphonic and ambient background music is woven throughout each show, and all episodes offer free full, illustrated, footnoted transcriptions as well as quizzes for purposes of review. The show has no advertisements, and its host takes pride in a professional approach that avoids chitchat and ephemera and gets straight to the educational content. You can listen to the episodes in any order, although most listeners begin at the beginning and proceed from there, as the podcast itself is chronologically organized. Doug Metzger finished his Ph.D. in literature in 2011. His chief scholarly interest, following his dissertation work, continues to be 19th-century realism and postbellum American philosophy.

Publisher

Doug Metzger

Category

arts · history

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

12 Feb 2016

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

20 of 130 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Episode 130: An Introduction to Early Medieval Literature

   Host Jack Wilson explores the origins of vernacular and Latin literature during the early Middle Ages, offering insights into this foundational period.

2. 

   11 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Episode 129: We Are the Grass

   Hosts Patrick Wyman and Dr. Diana Montrose reflect on the podcast's Abrahamic religions coverage and introduce the new season.

3. 

   15 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Episode 128: Early Sufism

   Hosts Derek and Mike explore the origins and key thinkers of early Sufism between 850 and 920 CE in this interview.

Inside a recent episode

Episode 130: An Introduction to Early Medieval Literature

Published 15 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] The first way has been to separate Latin works from those written in vernacular languages. The second way has been to separate works written in Celtic languages, namely Irish and Welsh, from works set down in Germanic languages, namely Anglo-Saxon, Old Saxon, Old High German, and later Old Norse. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

106,114

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

1,589 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1,460 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 67 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

62

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

94

Contact Literature and History

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about Literature and History