Sarah Braunstein: “Marjorie Lemke”

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Click here to read the abstract of the story on The New Yorker webpage (this week’s story is available only for subscribers). Sarah Braunstein’s “Marjorie Lemke” was originally published in the April 1, 2013 issue of The New Yorker. Trevor Marjorie Lemke, the titular character, is twenty years old and she feels like a loser. For me … Read more

Karen Russell: “Proving Up”

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“Proving Up” is the fourth story in Karen Russell’s second short story collection, Vampires in the Lemon Grove. For an overview with links to reviews of the other stories in this collection, please click here. “Proving Up” was originally published in Zoetrope, Vol. 15, No. 3 as “The Hox River Window.” After not particularly liking the prior two … Read more

PEN/Faulkner Winner

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Yesterday, the 2013 winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction was announced (click here for their announcement). Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club, by Benjamin Alire Sáenz Finalists were: Threats, by Amelia Gray Kind One, by Laird Hunt Hold It ‘Till It Hurts, by T. Geronimo Johnson Watergate, by Thomas Mallon

Episode 6: Nancy Mitford’s The Sun King

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The-Sun-KingThis month, we are joined by Tara Olmsted of booksexyreview.com to discuss Nancy Mitford’s biography of Louix XIV, The Sun King.

Louis XIV fell in love with Versailles and Louise de La Vallière at the same time. Versailles was the love of his life.

So begins Nancy Mitford’s 1966 biography of Louis XIV, her third of four biographies she completed during her lifetime. The Sun King is filled with her wry observations and rare wit. Mitford herself loved Versailles, dying there in her home in 1973.

NYRB Classics published their edition of The Sun King in May of 2012, and it is the book we’ll be talking about in Episode 6 of The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast.

In Episode 7 we will be discussing Vivant Denon’s No Tomorrow.

Show Notes (57:06)

  • Intro
  • Brief look at Nancy Mitford and the Mitford siblings
  • General thoughts
  • Mitford’s fiction

Some Links

Episode Credits

  • Co-Host Trevor Berrett
  • Co-Host Brian Berrett
  • Guest Tara Olmsted of booksexyreview.com
  • Introduction Music — “Where We Fall We’ll Lie” by Jeff Zentner, from his album The Dying Days of Summer (used with permission)
  • Outro Music — “If This Is to Be Goodbye” by Jeff Zentner, from his album The Dying Days of Summer (used with permission)