A History Geek's Reading Companion

A History Geek's Reading Companion

Joanna Chavez

Episodes 7
Avg. Duration 26m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (1)
Since Oct 2025
Latest Episode Mar 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Every 2 Weeks
Format
Episodic
Consistency
8%
Hosting
anchor.fm

About This Podcast

What if the novels you love were windows into the world that shaped them? I'm Joanna Chavez, an amateur historian with a passion for literature and archival deep dives, and in this podcast, we explore the real history behind the fiction. Each week, I dig into primary sources and historical scholarship to uncover the political, social, and cultural backdrops that influenced classic works like Pride & Prejudice, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Crime & Punishment. Whether you're a lifelong bookworm or a history nerd, consider this your reading companion. New episodes every week.

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Recent Episodes

Ep 6. Smuggling in the Mediterranean of Monte Cristo

Mar 25, 2026 22m

A look at the real smugglers behind The Count of Monte Cristo This episode breaks down the laws, customs systems, and coastal trade networks of the 1820s Mediterranean to show how contraband worked,…

Ep. 5 The Little Cabinet in the Tuileries

Mar 17, 2026 20m

In this episode, I stay with one chapter of The Count of Monte Cristo: “The Little Cabinet in the Tuileries.” On the surface, it looks like a short political transition chapter, but I argue that it…

Ep 4. Marseilles in 1815: The World Behind Edmond Dantes

Feb 22, 2026 36m

In this episode, we head to Marseille in 1815 and the tumultuous world behind the opening chapters of The Count of Monte Cristo. We walk through the First Restoration, Napoleon’s escape from Elba,…

Ep.3 Crime & Punishment Part II

Feb 18, 2026 36m

In this episode, I walk into the mess of Crime and Punishment and ask a simple, ugly question: what kind of history produces a mind like Raskolnikov’s? We move from a cramped Petersburg cupboard to…

Ep 2. Crime & Punishment Part I

Nov 19, 2025 35m

In this 2nd episode of The History Geek’s Reading Companion, I go back to Crime and Punishment, a book I first read as a miserable teenager coming off Pride and Prejudice, armed with bad instant…

Ep 1. The Industrial Philosophies of England in the 1840s/50s

Nov 05, 2025 31m

SummaryIn this episode, I explore the moral and political landscape of 19th century England through the lens of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel, North and South. The conversation delves into the…

Hello History Geeks!

Oct 27, 2025 2m Trailer

Welcome to this cozy corner for history geeks and curious readers alike. In this intro episode, I’ll share the inspiration behind the podcast and my philosophy: that literature doesn’t exist in a…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does A History Geek's Reading Companion have?

A History Geek's Reading Companion has published 7 episodes since October 2025, covering topics in History.

Is A History Geek's Reading Companion still active?

A History Geek's Reading Companion is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 26m.

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