Canonball
In this podcast we discuss the European literary canon and the history, culture, philosophy, art, and science that surrounds it.
Discussing "Prometheus Bound" By Aeschylus
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In this episode of Canonball, Evan and I discuss the play "Prometheus," which Aeschylus probably wrote, though some scholars are unsure of his authorship, and which was first performed in the middle-to-late fifth century BC.
The cover art for this episode is the painting "Prometheus Bound," which Thomas Cole completed in 1847.
Discussing "Medea" By Euripides With Evan
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In this episode of Canonball, Evan and I discuss the play "Medea," which Euripides wrote and which was first performed in 431 BC.
The cover art for this episode is the painting "Jason and Medea," which John William Waterhouse completed in 1907.
Discussing "Mozart On The Way To Prague" By Eduard Mörike
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "Mozart On The Way To Prague" by Eduard Mörike, which was published in 1856.
Here is the final scene of Don Giovanni, Mörike's description of which we discuss at around 28:32
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ioc9shJa_lI
Here is a website of translations of Mörike's poetry:
https://www.cingolani.com/Moerike_English.html
Discussing Petrarch's "Scattered Rhymes"
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In today's episode of Canonball we discuss Francis Petrarch's "Scattered Rhymes," which were written over 40 years and finalized as a collection shortly before Petrarch's death in 1374.
Discussing Max Planck's "Where Is Science Going?"
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "Where Is Science Going?" by Max Planck, which was published in 1932.
Discussing "Novum Organum" By Francis Bacon
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "Novum Organum," which Francis Bacon wrote and which was published in 1620.
Discussing The Oresteia – Part III: Eumenides – By Aeschylus With Evan
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In this episode of Canonball, Evan and I discuss the play "Eumenides," which is the third part of Aeschylus' only extant trilogy "Oresteia," which premiered in 458 BC.
The cover art for this episode is from a painting titled Pallas Athena that Rembrandt completed in 1657.
How To Actually Learn Any Language
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This is a summary of what I think is the best approach to learning a language, based on my experience mastering a foreign language as an adult.
Here you can download the software that I mentioned, Anki: https://apps.ankiweb.net/
Here is a page of links to word-frequency lists for German; similar lists can be found online for many other languages:
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wiktionary:Frequency_lists/German
The cover art is from the painting "Before the Audience," which Jean-Leon Gerome completed in...
Discussing "The Life Of Saint Louis" By Jean De Joinville
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "The Life Of Saint Louis," which Jean de Joinville completed in 1309.
The cover art for this episode is a painting titled Louis IX that Émile Signol completed in 1844.
The other painting I mentioned is Saint Louis Mediating Between the King of England and His Barons which Georges Rouget completed in 1820 and can be found
Discussing The Fragments Of Heraclitus
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss the fragments of Heraclitus, who lived in the sixth and fifth centuries BC.
The cover art for this episode is The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, which JMW Turner completed in 1834 or 1835.
Discussing The Oresteia – Part II: The Libation Bearers – By Aeschylus With Evan
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In this video, Evan and I discuss "The Libation Bearers," which is the second play in the Aeschylus' trilogy Oresteia.
The cover art for this episode is from Orestes Pursued by the Furies, which William-Adolphe Bouguereau completed in 1862.
Discussing "The Civilization Of The Renaissance In Italy" By Jacob Burckhardt
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "The Civilization Of The Renaissance In Italy," which was written by Jacob Burckhardt and published in 1860.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Colleges Are Abandoning the Classics — Down 70% Since 2008
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The data below are in the format indicated in the first line: The first word given is the term that I searched on opensyllabus.org, followed by its frequency in 2008, its frequency in 2024, and the percent change. So, for example, the first term in the list, that of the name of Diderot, declined by 90 percent in 16 years.
Term 2008 frequency 2024 frequency percent change
Diderot 0.027714 0.0025916 -90.64876957
Thucydides 0.10137 0.011824 -88.33579955
Petrarch 0.060532 0.0074508 -87.69113857
Aristophanes 0.090434 0.0115 -87.2835438
Tacitus 0.039382 0.0053452 -86.42730181
Boccaccio 0.040112 0.0055071 -86.27069206
Erasmus 0.026255 0.0037254 -85.81070272
Francis Bacon 0.033548 0.0051832 -84.54989865
Virgil 0.061991 0.010042 -83.80087432
Vi...
Discussing "The Revolt Of The Masses" By Jose Ortega y Gasset
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "The Revolt Of The Masses" which Jose Ortega y Gasset first published as a series of essays in 1929 before it was published as a book in 1930.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing The Oresteia – Part I: Agamemnon – By Aeschylus With Evan
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss the play "Agamemnon," by Aeschylus, which is the first part of Aeschylus' only extant trilogy "Oresteia," which premiered in 458 BC.
I was very pleased to have my good friend Evan join me for this discussion. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
The cover art for this episode is from the painting Clytemnestra Hesitating Before Striking Agamemnon, which French painter Pierre-Narcisse Guerin completed in 1817.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
Discussing "The Protestant Ethic And The Spirit Of Capitalism" By Max Weber
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "The Protestant Ethic And The Spirit Of Capitalism," which was written by Max Weber and published in 1904.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Bookstore Talk: Exploring Frankenstein And The World In Which Mary Shelley Created A Monster
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This is a talk I gave at a bookstore in Western Maryland in October 2025 discussing the world in which Mary Shelley was living when she wrote Frankenstein.
Pick up my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website: https://www.vollrathpublishing.com
At 3:36 I reversed the names of the Islands of St. Helena and Elba; Napoleon was of course first imprisoned on Elba, then St. Helena.
00:00 Intro
00:40 The French Revolution, The Napoleonic Wars, And Mary's Parents
04:51 The Industrial Revolution And Science Fiction
Discussing "The Spirit Of The Laws" By Montesquieu
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "The Spirit Of The Laws," which was written by Montesquieu and published in 1748.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "Fathers And Sons" By Ivan Turgenev
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "Fathers And Sons," which was written by Ivan Turgenev and published in 1862.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "We" By Yevgeny Zamyatin
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "We," which was written by Yevgeny Zamyatin and first published in 1924.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "The New Science" By Giambattista Vico – Part II
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In this episode of Canonball we continue discussing "The New Science," which was written by Giambattista Vico and first published in 1725, before being republished in a revised edition in 1730, and a final edition in 1744. See also Part I for more on Vico.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "The New Science" By Giambattista Vico – Part I
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In this episode of Canonball we begin discussing "The New Science," which was written by Giambattista Vico and first published in 1725, before being republished in a revised edition in 1730, and a final edition in 1744. See also Part II for more on Vico.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "The Devil's Dictionary" By Ambrose Bierce
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "The Devil's Dictionary," which was written by Ambrose Bierce and first published as a book in 1906 before being republished in 1911.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "The Last Man" By Mary Shelley
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "The Last Man," which was written by Mary Shelley and published in 1826.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Mendacious Impressions – An Original Short Story
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This is a short story I wrote. I hope you enjoy it.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "Statesman" By Plato
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "Statesman," which is one of the dialogues of Plato, who lived in the fifth and fourth centuries BC.
The cover art for this episode is Plato as depicted in a portion of the oil painting The Death of Socrates, which French painter Jacques-Louis David completed in 1787.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "Sophist" By Plato
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "Sophist," which is one of the dialogues of Plato, who lived in the fifth and fourth centuries BC.
The cover art for this episode is Plato as depicted in a portion of the oil painting The Death of Socrates, which French painter Jacques-Louis David completed in 1787.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "Theaetetus" By Plato
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "Theaetetus," which is one of the dialogues of Plato, who lived in the fifth and fourth centuries BC.
The cover art for this episode is Plato as depicted in a portion of the oil painting The Death of Socrates, which French painter Jacques-Louis David completed in 1787.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "Cratylus" By Plato
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "Cratylus," which is one of the dialogues of Plato, who lived in the fifth and fourth centuries BC.
The cover art for this episode is Plato as depicted in a portion of the oil painting The Death of Socrates, which French painter Jacques-Louis David completed in 1787.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "Phaedo," Or "On The Soul," By Plato
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "Phaedo," which is one of the dialogues of Plato, who lived in the fifth and fourth centuries BC.
The cover art for this episode is Plato as depicted in a portion of the oil painting The Death of Socrates, which French painter Jacques-Louis David completed in 1787.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "Crito" By Plato
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "Crito," which is one of the dialogues of Plato, who lived in the fifth and fourth centuries BC.
The cover art for this episode is Plato as depicted in a portion of the oil painting The Death of Socrates, which French painter Jacques-Louis David completed in 1787.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "Apology" By Plato
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "Apology," which is one of the dialogues of Plato, who lived in the fifth and fourth centuries BC.
The cover art for this episode is Plato as depicted in a portion of the oil painting The Death of Socrates, which French painter Jacques-Louis David completed in 1787.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "Euthyphro" By Plato
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "Euthyphro," which is one of the dialogues of Plato, who lived in the fifth and fourth centuries BC.
The cover art for this episode is Plato as depicted in a portion of the oil painting The Death of Socrates, which French painter Jacques-Louis David completed in 1787.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "Growth Of The Soil" By Knut Hamsun
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "Growth Of The Soil," which was written by Knut Hamsun and published in 1917.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "The Beautiful And Damned" By F. Scott Fitzgerald
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "The Beautiful And Damned," which was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1922.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing "Don Quixote" By Miguel De Cervantes
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss "The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote Of La Mancha," which was written by Miguel De Cervantes and originally published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615.
A correction: Edith Grossman's translation is 940 pages.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing Books, Childbirth, And Stories To Read My Daughter
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Today I wanted to let you know where I've been and what to expect going forward, then offer my thoughts on a few topics.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing Volume II Of "The Decline Of The West" By Oswald Spengler
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss Volume II of "The Decline Of The West," which, subtitled "Perspectives Of World-History," was written by Oswald Spengler and published in 1922.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Discussing Volume I Of "The Decline Of The West" By Oswald Spengler
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss Volume I of "The Decline Of The West," which, subtitled "Form And Actuality," was written by Oswald Spengler and published in 1918.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Also do not hesitate to reach out using the contact form found there.
Discussing Volume III Of "The Gulag Archipelago" By Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
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In this episode of Canonball we discuss Volume III of "The Gulag Archipelago" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, which was written between 1958 and 1968 and published in 1973.
Get a copy of my edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at my website:
VollrathPublishing.com
Also do not hesitate to reach out using the contact form found there.
