Old School with Shilo Brooks Roald Dahl: Genius and Bigot
Eli Lake, journalist and host of Breaking History, joins to examine literary geniuses who were morally compromised. They discuss Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s books alongside his antisemitism. Conversation ranges over Voltaire, T.S. Eliot, Norman Mailer, Ezra Pound and the art-versus-artist dilemma. The tone is probing, refusing simple answers while insisting on full honesty.
49:18
Separate Art From Artist
- Great art can be judged separately from the artist's moral failings because beauty and truth stand on their own.
- Eli Lake argues we should read geniuses like Voltaire or Socrates despite their prejudices, not erase them from the canon.
Gauguin's Crimes Versus Museum Displays
- Paul Gauguin exemplifies an artist whose colonial sexual abuse of underage Tahitian girls raises questions about whether to display his work.
- Lake cites Gauguin's statutory rape and colonial context as a reason some argue for removal from museums.
Preserve Works And Tell The Whole Truth
- Don't cancel great artists but also don't lie about them; tell the full truth of their flaws alongside their achievements.
- Lake's rule: preserve the work while teaching the artist's failings so students grapple honestly with both.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Can we separate art from the artist?
01:46 • 3min
Historical contexts and moral judgment
04:31 • 49sec
The steel‑man of cancelling art
05:20 • 2min
Michael Jackson and portrayal limits
07:45 • 3min
Learning from moral failures without endorsing them
10:17 • 2min
Ancient thinkers and modern standards
12:00 • 2min
Madness, genius, and creative drive
13:33 • 3min
Crime, celebrity, and justice
16:37 • 1min
Norman Mailer: talent and violence
17:59 • 60sec
Mailer’s notable books and lasting value
18:58 • 3min
Voltaire’s brilliance and bigotry
22:13 • 4min
Candide’s enduring lesson
26:32 • 2min
T.S. Eliot’s poetic genius and prejudice
28:30 • 2min
Ezra Pound: poetry and political treason
30:50 • 4min
Roald Dahl: beloved books, ugly views
34:27 • 2min
Ad break
36:39 • 2min
Shylock, Shakespeare, and enduring works
38:16 • 46sec
Why fans want creators to be moral
39:02 • 4min
Complexity: good art from flawed people
43:17 • 5min
No absolute ban; but tell the whole truth
48:24 • 37sec
Outro
49:01 • 29sec
#14578
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Wasteland (poem)
T. S. Eliot
#712
• Mentioned in 50 episodes
Candide
François-Marie Arouet
Voltaire
Candide, written by Voltaire, is a satirical novel that critiques metaphysical optimism, particularly the philosophy of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.
The story revolves around Candide, a naive and optimistic young man who is expelled from his home after an illicit affair with the baron's daughter, Cunégonde.
Candide and his companions, including his tutor Pangloss, experience a series of horrific events such as wars, earthquakes, slavery, and other atrocities.
Despite these hardships, Pangloss persists in his belief that 'all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.
' The novel ultimately concludes with Candide and his friends settling on a farm in Turkey, where they find happiness by focusing on practical, everyday tasks rather than philosophical speculations.
Voltaire uses satire to lampoon various aspects of 18th-century society, including science, philosophy, religion, and government.
#1961
• Mentioned in 24 episodes
Merchant of Venice
William Shakespeare
The play revolves around Antonio, a wealthy merchant of Venice, who takes a loan from the Jewish moneylender Shylock to help his friend Bassanio woo the wealthy heiress Portia.
When Antonio's ships are reported lost at sea, he is unable to repay the loan, and Shylock demands his pound of flesh as per the bond.
The play culminates in a trial where Portia, disguised as a lawyer, intervenes to save Antonio's life.
The play explores themes of debt, mercy, and the complexities of human relationships in 16th-century Venice.
#1634
• Mentioned in 27 episodes
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Roald Dahl
In this classic children's novel, Charlie Bucket, a destitute young boy, wins a golden ticket to tour the enigmatic and magical chocolate factory of Willy Wonka.
Alongside four other children, each with their own flaws, Charlie embarks on a journey through the factory, encountering various moral lessons and bizarre consequences for the misbehaving children.
The story highlights themes of poverty, kindness, and the importance of following rules, all set against the backdrop of a fantastical and often darkly humorous world created by Roald Dahl.
#6634
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
The Naked and the Dead
Norman Mailer
The Naked and the Dead, published in 1948, is Norman Mailer's debut novel.
It is set on the fictional island of Anopopei in the South Pacific during World War II and follows the experiences of a fourteen-man infantry platoon as they engage in a campaign to drive out the Japanese.
The novel is divided into four parts: 'Wave,' 'Argil and Mold,' 'Plant and Phantom,' and 'Wake,' and includes chorus sections of dialogue and 'Time Machine' sections that provide background and flashbacks.
The story explores themes of power, victimization, and the naturalistic view of human experience, highlighting the brutal and often futile nature of war.
Key characters include General Cummings, Lieutenant Hearn, and Sergeant Croft, whose actions and interactions drive the plot and explore the psychological and social dynamics of the soldiers.
#3156
• Mentioned in 16 episodes
Notes on the state of Virginia
Thomas Jefferson
Notes on the State of Virginia is a book written by Thomas Jefferson, begun in 1781 and updated in 1782 and 1783.
It originated from his responses to questions about Virginia posed by François Barbé-Marbois.
The book is divided into 23 chapters, or 'Queries,' covering various aspects of Virginia such as its boundaries, rivers, climate, population, and institutions.
Jefferson also expounds on his views on slavery, education, religious freedom, representative government, and the separation of church and state.
The work is significant for its detailed account of Virginia's resources and Jefferson's major philosophical and political beliefs.
#2989
• Mentioned in 17 episodes
James and the Giant Peach
Roald Dahl
In 'James and the Giant Peach', Roald Dahl tells the story of James Henry Trotter, a young boy whose life is turned upside down after his parents are killed by a rhinoceros.
James is forced to live with his abusive aunts, Spiker and Sponge, until a mysterious old man gives him magic crystals that accidentally cause a giant peach to grow.
Inside the peach, James meets a group of oversized, friendly insects: a grasshopper, a spider, a ladybug, a centipede, an earthworm, and a silkworm.
Together, they escape the aunts and embark on a fantastical journey across the Atlantic Ocean, facing various challenges such as sharks, Cloud-Men, and other obstacles.
The story highlights themes of resilience, friendship, and the power of imagination, ultimately leading James to a happier life in New York City.
#7672
• Mentioned in 7 episodes
Harlot's Ghost
Norman Mailer
Harlot's Ghost is a sprawling novel that explores the early years of the CIA through the experiences of Harry Hubbard, a CIA operative involved in significant Cold War events like the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The book delves into themes of espionage, loyalty, and morality, featuring a mix of real and fictional characters.
Despite its ambitious scope, the novel's narrative is often criticized for its complexity and lack of focus on key characters.
#1403
• Mentioned in 31 episodes
Matilda
Roald Dahl
Matilda Wormwood is a precocious and intelligent girl who is neglected by her selfish and abusive parents.
She finds solace in reading and eventually discovers she has telekinetic powers.
At school, she faces the tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull but finds support from her compassionate teacher Miss Honey.
Matilda uses her intelligence and powers to defend herself and Miss Honey against the cruel adults in her life, ultimately leading to a satisfying resolution where she finds a loving home with Miss Honey.
For tickets to our live recording with Jon Meacham in Philadelphia, click here and register. Use code TFP for a 20 percent discount.
Roald Dahl gave the world Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He was also a vicious antisemite.
A Broadway play about Dahl’s legacy; the new Michael Jackson biopic; Kanye West’s attempted redemption arc; all of these have the culture asking again: How do we approach brilliant art produced by morally compromised artists?
Throughout history, some of the world’s preeminent literary geniuses have also been deeply bigoted, even monstrous people. In this episode, Shilo is joined by Eli Lake, host of Breaking History, for a conversation about these geniuses, from Voltaire to Norman Mailer, and why we should read their work despite their odious prejudices.
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