Margaret Drabble’s 1965 novel The Millstone offers a nuanced portrayal of single motherhood in 1960s London. Author Carrie Mullins, whose 2024 nonfiction work The Book of Mothers explores literary depictions of motherhood, joins us to discuss Drabble’s fearless protagonist, Rosamund. Together, we explore how The Millstone captures the joys and burdens of motherhood, and how Drabble’s sharp, ahead-of-its-time portrayal speaks to contemporary readers.
Mentioned in this episode:
The Book of Mothers: How Literature Can Help Us Reinvent Modern Motherhood by Carrie Mullins
The Millstone by Margaret Drabble
A Touch of Love starring Sandy Dennis and Ian McKellan
Cambride Ladies Dining Society
Lost Ladies of Lit Episode No. 139 on Heartburn by Nora Ephron
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
“Little Women” and the Marmee Problem
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Pride & Prejudiceby Jane Austen
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
For episodes and show notes, visit:
LostLadiesofLit.com
Subscribe to our substack newsletter.
Follow us on instagram @lostladiesoflit.
Email us: Contact — Lost Ladies of Lit Podcast
Popular Podcasts
Cold Case Files: Miami
Joyce Sapp, 76; Bryan Herrera, 16; and Laurance Webb, 32—three Miami residents whose lives were stolen in brutal, unsolved homicides. Cold Case Files: Miami follows award‑winning radio host and City of Miami Police reserve officer Enrique Santos as he partners with the department’s Cold Case Homicide Unit, determined family members, and the advocates who spend their lives fighting for justice for the victims who can no longer fight for themselves.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.