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Brit Lit Book Club

Brit Lit Book Club

By: Vanessa
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About this listen

Welcome to The Brit Lit Book Club, where we explore the stories behind the stories. Host Vanessa, founder of The Book Club Tour, takes you on literary adventures through Britain's greatest works—from Shakespeare and Austen to Dickens and the Brontës.


What to Expect:

Each episode dives deep into a classic British author or work, going far beyond the plot summaries you learned in school. We'll uncover how these authors challenged their societies, examine the historical forces that shaped their writing, and discover why these centuries-old books still speak to our modern world—from family expectations and social pressure to gender roles and class conflict.


Explore the real Shakespeare beyond the myths. Understand why Romeo and Juliet is more about social control than romance. Discover how Jane Austen revolutionized the novel while navigating life as a single woman. Learn what Dickens revealed about Victorian poverty and why the Brontës' heroines were so scandalous.


You'll Discover:

  • Historical context that brings classic literature to life
  • Surprising connections between Regency ballrooms and modern dating culture
  • Why Victorian social issues mirror today's challenges
  • The real lives of authors who defied convention
  • How to read between the lines of England's most beloved books
  • Book recommendations for deeper exploration
  • Travel tips for experiencing literary England firsthand


Who this podcast is for:

Perfect for book club members, literature enthusiasts, Anglophiles, students, travelers planning literary pilgrimages, and anyone who suspects there's more to these classics than they were taught in school.


Whether you're revisiting old favorites or discovering British literature for the first time, each episode offers fresh perspectives, thoughtful analysis, and plenty of tea.


New episodes weekly.


Grab your tea and join the conversation!


© 2025 Brit Lit Book Club
Episodes
  • Who Was Shakespeare Really?

    Who Was Shakespeare Really?
    Oct 8 2025
    Who Was Shakespeare Really?


    Uncover the mystery behind William Shakespeare in this captivating first episode of the Brit Lit Book Club. Who was the glove-maker's son from Stratford-upon-Avon who became the greatest writer in the English language? Host Vanessa Hunt explores the fascinating gaps in Shakespeare's biography, from his mysterious "lost years" to the controversial authorship question that has puzzled scholars for centuries.

    Discover why a man with no university education could write with such sophisticated knowledge of law, politics, and classical mythology. Journey back to Elizabethan England in 1564 to understand the rigid class system Shakespeare was born into—and how his success defied every social expectation of his time. Learn about the religious tensions between Protestant and Catholic England, the explosion of London theater culture, and why Shakespeare's mixed audience of groundlings and nobles shaped his revolutionary writing style.

    This episode reveals why the "upstart crow" criticized by university-educated playwrights became more influential than any of them, and why his story of social mobility through talent still resonates today. From his baptism at Holy Trinity Church to performances before Queen Elizabeth I, trace the remarkable journey of William Shakespeare.

    Featured Topics:

    • Shakespeare's mysterious birth and lost years (1585-1592)
    • The Shakespeare authorship debate and conspiracy theories
    • Daily life in Elizabethan London and Stratford-upon-Avon
    • Theater culture in Shakespeare's England
    • Social class, religion, and politics in the 1590s
    • Why Shakespeare's phrases still shape modern English
    • Book recommendations for further investigation

    Perfect for:
    Shakespeare enthusiasts, British literature students, history buffs, theater lovers, and anyone planning a literary pilgrimage to England. Whether you're revisiting Shakespeare after school or discovering him for the first time, this episode offers fresh perspectives on the man behind the masterpieces.

    Topics: William Shakespeare, Shakespeare biography, Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare authorship question, Elizabethan England, Globe Theatre, Shakespeare mystery, lost years, British literature podcast, Shakespeare podcast, Tudor England, Elizabeth I, Renaissance theater, Shakespeare's life, literary history, Book Club Tour, Vanessa Hunt, Shakespeare travel, literary tourism
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    16 mins
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