From the Lighthouse

Is Oscar Wilde's play about a woman of no importance or a man of no importance? To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the play, Stephanie and Lee discuss comedy, tragedy, and the confusing appeal of aestheticism.

Jeanette Winterson is one of the UK's most beloved and challenging writers. This week, Stephanie and Michelle discuss Winterson's long career, from the publication of Oranges are Not the Only Fruit in 1985, to her recent (fabulously titled) memoir, Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal? Wh

To be or not to be? Is that the question? This week, Stephanie is joined by Professor Tony Cousins to discuss one of Shakespeare's most popular plays. Is this really a play about somebody who can't make up their mind or is it more complicated than that?

This week, Stephanie and Michelle interview Michelle Cahill, writer and managing director of the literary journal Mascara. In this wide-ranging discussion, they talk about the intersection of medicine and literature, interceptionality, and literary gate-keeping. For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelighthouse.org

The longlist for the Women's Prize was released on March 8, International Women's Day. This week, Stephanie and Michelle discuss the longlist: the books they've read, the books they want to read, and the snubs.  For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelighthouse.org

Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence. Or does she? This week, Stephanie is joined by Dr Lee O'Brien to discuss Mr Knightley, Miss Bates, and why Emma's big problem is that she's just so bored. For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelighthouse.org

Generation Women is a storytelling event where women from all walks of life tell stories and celebrate women's voices. This week, Stephanie talks to Macquarie University English alumna Suvi Derkenne about bringing Generation Women to Australia, the importance of women's voices, and what she's been up to since leaving Macquarie. The first Generation Women event will be held at the Giant Dwarf Theat...

Margaret Atwood's 1996 novel Alias Grace was recently made into a television adaptation, available on Netflix and starring Sarah Gadon as Grace Marks, and produced by Canadian actress Sarah Polley. This week, Stephanie, Michelle and Jimmy discuss the series, focusing on crime, feminism and ambiguous endings (and Stephanie rants a lot).  For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelight...

Are you a Valentine's Day sap or a grinch? This week, Stephanie, Michelle and Jimmy are joined by Associate Professor Hsu-Ming Teo to talk about all things romance. They discuss Austen, why murder makes romance novels more interesting, why good real estate matters, and Michelle get the giggles over deer.  For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelighthouse.org

Why does this week's guest set rejection goals? This week, Stephanie and Michelle chat to Ashley Kalagian Blunt about her work as a writer. They discuss her writing about the Armenian genocide, moving to Australia from Canada, and Ashley gives her top tips for aspiring writers. For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelighthouse.org

How does a young writer start their writing career? This week, Stephanie interviews Creative Writing alumna and talented writer Claire Catacouzinos about historical fiction, the impact of her Greek heritage, and her journey as a writer. Claire gives such helpful tips about managing a writing career that this episode is a must for any aspiring young writers out there.  For more info visit our websi...

A special From the Lighthouse presentation: an evening of poetry and song in China! Featuring Toby Davidson, Jane Messer and Hsu-Ming Teo reading their works, with musical accompaniment by Shu-Cheen Yu. For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelighthouse.org

One of the perks of working in an English department is getting to work alongside writers. This week, Stephanie and Michelle are joined by Associate Professor Marcelle Freiman to discuss Marcelle's writing life. They discuss her youth in South Africa, migration to the UK and Australia, her career as a poet, and the life of a creative mind.  For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthel...

Do we really need an excuse to talk about Pride and Prejudice? Stephanie is joined by Dr Lee O'Brien and Dr Geoff Payne to talk about everybody's favourite novel and gush about the enduring genius of Jane Austen.  For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

In a year of big Romantic anniversaries, Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias" celebrates 200 years since its publication on 11 January 2018. To celebrate, Stephanie is joined by Dr Geoff Payne to discuss the poem, Percy Shelley, his scandalous life, and the time somebody tried to assassinate him. For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

What were your best books of 2017? This week, Stephanie and Michelle contemplate their year in reading. For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

What books do you absolutely hate? What books have you pretended to have read? Which books are you ashamed of loving? This week, Stephanie, Michelle and Jimmy let the silly season go to their heads entirely and spill all their deepest, darkest secrets. Shh, don't tell anyone.

Christmas is a time for...escaping family by watching television and reading? This week, Stephanie, Michelle and Jimmy discuss their favourite Christmas books, films and tv shows, and Stephanie is mocked for liking Elf. Merry Christmas! For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

Jane Austen's novels Persuasion and Northanger Abbey were published posthumously in December 1817. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of these novels that bookend Austen's career, Stephanie is joined by Dr Geoff Payne to discuss Anne Elliot, Catherine Morland, the novel, and the Navy. For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

Gladys Mitchell is one of the most entertaining of the Golden Age detective novelists. However, she's relatively little known today. This week, Stephanie and Jimmy discuss her first novel, Speedy Death, with Dr Lee O'Brien, and make the case that everybody should really be reading Gladys Mitchell.  For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

Romance fiction is often unfairly maligned as silly and escapist, largely because of its association with a female readership, but in terms of popularity, nothing beats romance. This week, Stephanie and Jimmy discuss the phenomenal power of the romance novel with romance expert Associate Professor Hsu-Ming Teo.  For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

Murder on the Orient Express is one of Agatha Christie's best-known mysteries, and a new film adaptation directed and starring Kenneth Branagh is in cinemas now. This week, Stephanie, Jimmy and Michelle discuss the novel, the film, and Jimmy's strange serial killer obsession. For more info visit our website at:  https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

Since the podcast Serial was released in 2014 (#freeAdnan), the public appetite for true crime documentaries and podcasts seems unquenchable. This week, Stephanie and Jimmy are joined by Dr Alys Moody to discuss the appeal of true crime, the role of the police, Making a Murderer and citizen detectives.

Jean Rhys's lyrical, beautiful novel Wide Sargasso Sea is a prequel of sorts to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, focusing on the story of Mr. Rochester's first wife. This week, Stephanie and Michelle discuss Jamaica, Jane Eyre, and how Jean Rhys ruined Mr. Rochester for them both forever. 

King Lear is one of Shakespeare's most beloved plays, but also one of his bleakest. This week, Stephanie and Michelle are joined by Shakespearean scholar and Renaissance man, Professor Tony Cousins to discuss Lear, Cordelia, lame eighteenth-century reworkings of the play, and why King Lear became the play de jour after WWII.