#  Prof. Stephen Greenblatt talks Montaigne with Prof. Sophie Gee, PhD 2002 

 





October 31, 2025

 

 

*The Secret Life of Books* is a funny, smart podcast that tells the story behind the story of literary classics. How and why they got written, with author backstory, critical analysis, and above all great banter.   
  
The show is co-hosted by Sophie Gee, (Harvard PhD 2002, and professor in the Dept of English at Princeton), and Jonty Claypole, (former Director of Arts at the BBC in London). It’s regularly the #1 books podcast in Australia and the UK and has been called “addictive” and "hilarious." The show’s mission is to make classics fun and accessible for all.  
  
Alongside the main episodes they do regular guest bonuses. A career highlight for Sophie was recording ["Climb Every Montaigne"](https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__podcasts.apple.com_us_podcast_montaigne-2Dpt1-2Dclimb-2Devery-2Dmontaigne-2Dwith-2Dstephen_id1755803199-3Fi-3D1000731012072&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=McmKCCxOpnPTmUHULBMgBI_p0Yb2Tp5pINS9IH0GwYo&m=V_VDR87JhV0yKxIhPAWjEpfHD34kzTjid5TpZHqsPjtw-5AoSnwK74MmLufas15V&s=50nl-BvXBsX5284oSxO2ACzt2-BbIfQ4ShlrCPhXmOE&e=) with Stephen Greenblatt about Michel de Montaigne (Sophie was Stephen’s TF back in grad school). And here’s ["Classic Books v Trump"](https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__podcasts.apple.com_us_podcast_classic-2Dbooks-2Dvs-2Dtrump-2Djill-2Dlepore-2Don-2Dreading-2Dher-2Dway_id1755803199-3Fi-3D1000710054172&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=McmKCCxOpnPTmUHULBMgBI_p0Yb2Tp5pINS9IH0GwYo&m=V_VDR87JhV0yKxIhPAWjEpfHD34kzTjid5TpZHqsPjtw-5AoSnwK74MmLufas15V&s=3DxSI90vnOg2hRCznpoNiv_AZT2z3Fdr0AN7Nrjfn-M&e=) with Jill Lepore about the classics that got her through the first days of Trump’s government.



 

 

 



 

 

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