This week is a bit of a first in the almost-one-year history of the Ivory Tower Boiler Room: we were asked to do a book review of sorts. The editors of Broadview Press invited us to interview them on the occasion of their release of the new edition of the Broadview Anthology of British Literature, Volume 5, The Victorian Era, 3rd Edition. Obviously we got to look through the book first; it was quite a trip.
First, they take “British” to mean: anywhere under British sway, which means this is the only anthology of its kind to be including Toru Dutt, Rabindranath Tagore, Mary Prince, and many regrettably less famous names from India, Africa, Ireland, and Australia. There are also several Jewish and queer writers who were not previously getting their due, such as the novelist Amy Levy and Andrew’s beloved poet, literary critic, and sexologist, John Addington Symonds.
Have a listen in a few days (new podcasts usually drop Saturdays, so this one will be out June 26) and you’ll hear what all the fuss is about. We dare you not to be infected by the sheer joy of listening to four people talk about the subject they love most.