Keeps me up at night with interesting stories every time.

This podcast is utterly fantastic. I love it, I savor it, I devour it, I cherish it. Thank you Doug Metzger! You blow me away…..

Have been listening to L&H for years and can’t recommend the show enough for anyone interested in works of classical literature and the cultural history in which they were created. Doug makes the content both fun and easy to digest in a way only great professors can accomplish - so grateful for the work he’s doing!

Can’t get better than this. Extremely learned and great teacher/podcaster. Grateful for the existence of this podcaster and the devotion of Metzger to the project. He makes speaking sound like writing and writing like speaking, and so keeps us both engaged and, when he is done, a little more learned.

What an awesome podcast. professional and informative. Entertaining The endings are a treat

80-grade CF range, profiles as an elite lead-off hitter with excellent on-base skills and a chance to steal 60 bases.

I discovered this podcast as I was researching Aeschylus' Orestia. I learned so much in each hour that now I'm going back to start at episode one.

A genuinely great listen to a smart guy talk in a very accessible way about all the literature you’ve ever heard of but never really read deeply. If you want to nerd out with some texts, this is where to come.

Honestly, I love this podcast. Doug has a great balance between reading you the stories and pausing to give you context of the times and how that could have shaped the stories that were being told. I recommend this to all of my literature or history nerds!! This has been one of my favorite podcasts for years.

Our author combines a superhuman knowledge of history with great musical talent as a composer and lyricist to rival Soundheim and Jason Robert Brown. His best rivals are the epic Roman podcast and the series of revolutionary podcasts starting with the French Revolution to the Revolutions in the Americas including the American, Haitian and Mexican revolutions. But this podcast may be the best of them all.

Fascinating and fun. Thank you.

I am going through this podcast for the second time. It is absolutely the most informative, well rerserarched, and interesting podcast for those who love history and/or literature. I just hope that Doug adds several more new podcasts so that by the time I reach Gregory of Tours I will still have several more two go.

Been listening to this for years now and it always brightens my day when a new episode is released. A truly high quality well researched masterclass.

It is flabbergasting to me this not the most well known of all history podcasts. For lovers of literature it is an absolute must-listen. Complete audio control, fun songs, fun jokes, and astounding deep dives that will change your perception of all history.

I always liked reading about history but the stuff I always read was about epic wars and heroes. This podcast’s literary approach and historical context provides a unique and refreshing perspective on history. This is seriously the best podcast ever! I have listened to all episodes at least 3 times.

I only recently stumbled onto this show about a year ago and have utterly devoured it since; already through the first 86 episodes and and shuddering at the realization that I’m nearly out of runway. Eager to see what’s in store for the next season. My only fear is that like so many niche educational podcasts this one might fizzle out due to burnout or lack of time and resource. So give this man all your money!! He never asks for any and it’s ad free. Quality education with this level of academic rigor has never been so accessible let alone free to the public. The world is far better for it. I have been frustrated with my education and lack of context for anything historical and felt like even after my degree at a reputable liberal arts college there was hardly anything liberal about it in the traditional sense. I came out feeling confused and illiterate. Maybe that’s the point of your undergrad. In the years since I’ve tried to conduct my own liberal education with a library card and have been slowly working my way through the classics and great books of the western world but struggled with feeling siloed and on my own. The whole idea with this kind of learning is engagement with the text and Socratic dialogue, right? But I didn’t know anyone with a similar interest in these texts, let alone the patience to engage systematically within their historical context. This podcast has scratched that itch more meaningfully than I know how to articulate and for anyone else out there lacking a community of readers to engage with on this topic- the warmth and accessibility you’ll find here will be like coming home. I am so glad that this exists. If Doug ever decides to start leading small group seminars on assigned reading I’ll be first in line.

This is an unbelievable podcast. The amount of work put into each episode is incredible! - Adam in Waco

One of my all time favorite podcasts. Always both entertaining and informative. One cannot appreciate literature without a historical context. Thanks for the immense effort and care !

Nothing else compares!

I just finished all the episodes on the Old Testament. Everything has been so interesting, that I just can’t pass up the bonus content, and I’m buying all of it far into the future episodes. This man is so very knowledgeable and entertaining.

Thank you, Doug! Thank you for your advance organizer on City of God!

This is one of the most entertaining and interesting podcasts I’ve ever listened to! Plus I’m learning so much!

Great podcast! I consider myself quite knowledgeable in history but this podcast showed me many historical events under a different angle.

Just recently found this Podcast, enjoying the depth of detail provided on each topic.

I have listened to hours and hours, and I love every nerdy minute of it.

Skillfully blends providing the context and summarizing the text. Always makes me want to read the book for myself. Thanks!

Love this show.

My man Metzger really does it up! Brilliant analysis giving you the background knowledge to understand literature in a comprehensive manner! Appreciate all the hard work!!! (Songs at the end are kinda goofy though)

Doug does a tremendous job of presenting each work of literature in a balanced fashion within historical context. Also, I really appreciate the balanced biblical coverage. So much biblical discussion is taken from either a Christian or anti-Christian stance and I really appreciate hearing a balanced perspective that presents it within historical context.

Literature and History does what any educational podcast should do: it analyzes dense, historically significant text and makes it accessible to modern listeners. I work as an English teacher and I listen to this podcast every day on my way to work. I’ve learned a lot from this podcast, which gives me interesting material for my lessons and helps me feel more comfortable in my own brain. The musical accompaniment is great too!

Follow along the journey, it's worth every moment. Doug keeps a consistent and digestible pace at material that is not typically considered easy. He frequently inspires me to go back and read materials I might not have actually read on my own.

Doug connects history and literature in a clear and entertaining way! I’ve learned A LOT and look forward to upcoming shows.

I came across this thread by chance and have just listened to one episode on Seneca. It was very well presented, clear, at a good pace, and wonderful for listening. Also gave me a new perspective. In my reading ( although I have not read much) Seneca was presented as a saintly Stoic. Thank you.

I can’t believe this guy does this incredible work and offers it to the rest of the world absolutely free of charge. Dude, whoever you are, you really are a very talented and, more importantly, a wonderful human being. This podcast is incredible and I don’t even want to know how many hours this takes away from your life. If I knew, I’d probably feel guilty for even listening. Keep up the fantastic work!!!

Absolutely amazing podcast, I’ve learned so much and it’s done in both a comprehensive yet entertaining way. Thank you!!

An extremely entertaining take on literature and history. The length can be a bit daunting but the payoff is worth it. These long episodes are broken down with little intermissions that provide a welcome rest to your brain. I’m curious as to why Doug didn’t break up these longer episodes into smaller podcasts but that is only a mild complaint. It’s well worth a listen and don’t skip the song at the end of each episode.

I have never reviewed anything in my life but this podcast is THAT good and I can only hope more episodes come out!!!

I could not love this podcast more. I’ve purchased all the bonus content and am hundreds of hours of listening in. It’s riveting honestly. Doug is an amazing host, author, researcher and podcaster. I’m at episode 76 and dreading the fact that it seems like this will not go on forever . Seriously- listen to this podcast!

I searched for St. Jerome and came across this podcast and wow, it’s like stepping into a well run seminar. Really well researched and presented.

One of the best podcast I have listened to. I am so lucky to have found it and I intend to spend a good deal of my remaining time on this earth listening, studying, relistening and enjoying this very thoughtful and insightful course. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and insight.

The latest review prompted this one from me because I too move at a glacial pace as I read all the works as well, including making my way through the Old Testament. I even read some of the additional reading books. Right now I have finished Aeschylus and am moving on to Sophocles. It is a College Course and boy was that a help over this past year and a half with the Covid lockdown. There is something very reassuring about reading 2500 year old texts while the world goes crazy. I can’t wait to get to the Romans but at my pace that will be 2022. I can’t recommend this podcast enough

I have personally listened to this podcast 3 times all the way through. You learn so much and get a unique perspective on the great works of literature framed by the historical context in which they were written.

It’s pure truth. Beyond good, didn’t want to but felt compelled to become a patreon support to this amazing beautiful work of art. Just to good

I’m bereft! Only recently - like 6 months ago - discovered this wonderful podcast. Learned soo much! Have listened to numerous episodes over and over - signed up on Patreon. Face it - listening to Doug Metzer discuss and present ancient history and tales - you start to feel guilty - at least I did - felt like I was getting something, something very valuable for nothing! Like I was cheating somehow! The podcast is so good, so edifying. And now … nothing since March. The beginning of March! Just hoping he’s ok. Have come to love him. Oh … and yeah … his work!

Ex english majors- you’ve found your new home! This podcast is incredible. It gives you an excellent summary of the work, surprisingly well performed, with in depth analysis and historical context. And then a song about it all. I’ve only listened to a few so far but I will be binge listening to them ALL. Such a wonderful podcast: content, production, host all 10/10!

Some of the best educational content on the internet - engaging, thoughtful, well produced, fun, and not too gimmicky (except for the songs, those are kitsch in the best way possible). Just became a Patreon subscriber and couldn’t be more willing to part with my $3/episode.

Dr. Metzger’s podcast is a singular and most important contribution to literature and history. In a world where academic knowledge is conspicuously silent and people get most of their information from uneducated bloggers, it is a breath of fresh air to get an actual PhD to teach about literature and history. I have come across other podcasts run by historians. However, the information has sadly been biased by personal beliefs, and processed to coddle our modern sensibilities. Dr. Metgzer does what a true historian should: tell us what happened, guide us with an informed perspective, and otherwise let us make sense of it all. His through and entertaining review of the literature and robust resources on the website help me develop my own reading list. He doesn’t stop there. Instead of unrehearsed rants, he gives us very well-produced shows with professional-quality audio. Just when I thought young people no longer cared about classic literature or history, here is Dr. Metzger, making learning fun without watering down the content. I have already donated to his podcast, and will continue to do so.

I stumbled across your podcast and had never explored literature in a historical context thanks to your podcast. I am now ravenous for more information and contact you make learning about history and literature, entertaining and crave worthy. Thank you, thank you thank you I am binging every single episode.

WHO IS GIVING ANYTHING LESS THAN A 5/5 - SERIOUSLY WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING?!? Nothing better for anyone who has any interest in literature with historical context. HIGHLY recommended. And Iliad rap battle. I mean, c’MON. Simply the best

This is so good! Will spend probably a year getting through what is posted so far. It is free BUT when you finish an episode you want to find the check-out --this is something I would want to pay for! Worth a donation.