125. How to find literary allusions

Do you love the feeling of happening upon a subtle reference to a great literary work in the midst of your current read? Or do you feel like you’re on the outside when books allude to works you haven’t read? In today’s episode, we’re getting extra nerdy and breaking down all things literary allusions. For our discussion, we share what a literary allusion is and what kinds of allusions are referenced most widely. Plus, we’ll share tips on how to access these oft-referenced stories to illuminate your reading experience, and we’ll share book recommendations to build your TBR with classic and contemporary literature.  If you love our extra nerdy discussion on the podcast today, we have a hunch that you would love our Novel Pairings Patreon community. Our Patreon is a great space to take part in public scholarship, get a little more academic, and talk about books with a smart, eclectic group of readers. Subscriptions start at just $5 a month, and yearly discounts are available. To learn more about our Patreon, visit patreon.com/novelpairings. Classic Books for Allusions: The Odyssey by Homer (NP episode 123) Paradise Lost by John Milton Dante’s Inferno Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (NP episode 32) Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (NP episode 111) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte  (NP episodes 77 + 79) Rebecca by Daphne Du Mauier Beloved by Toni Morrison (NP episode 12) Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (NP episode 20) Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (NP episode 51 + 53) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (NP episode 26)   Other Books Mentioned: On Beauty by Zadie Smith Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Telephone by Percival Everett Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark Lone Women by Victor LaValle  The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë