About this episode

This episode explores notable literary feuds and the art of literary shade among famous writers.

Join us for an episode filled with spectacular spats, bruised egos, and top-tier literary shade. This month, Adam introduces a riotous tour through Britain’s greatest writerly bust-ups: from Lady Mary Wortley Montagu shredding Swift in more ways than one, to Pope’s poisonously personal vendettas, to the mutual mockeries of Anne Ingram, Mary Leapor, Thackeray, Woolf, Gibbons, Brontë, and beyond. Notably absent from the episode is Jo Waugh herself, rumoured to be lying low after some spirited listener feedback concerning a certain comment she made about friend-of-the-pod Ben Garlick. Will Ben forgive us? And were the best writers really the “good haters” Samuel Johnson claimed? Tune in to find out.

More episodes of Smith & Waugh Talk About Satire

• EP85. HeathSMITH & WAUGHthering Heights Talk About Emily Brontë, Emerald Fennell & Satire · March 11, 2026 · 1h 5m
• EP84. "Zombie" "Satire": 28YL The Bone Temple (+ Bonus Boning Up on "Wuthering Heights") · February 26, 2026 · 1h 10m
• EP83. Sidney Sweeney Has Bad Satire: The Housemaid, The Traitors & Stranger Things on Toast · January 27, 2026 · 1h 1m
• EP82. The Grinch who Stole Satire: A Christmas Feast of Partridge, Plur1bus, Dead Man & Toast · December 20, 2025 · 1h 9m
• EP80. Happy HaLEIGHween! A Spooky Satire Special with Leigh Stein · October 30, 2025 · 1h 29m
• EP79. Smith & Waugh Are Not Helping: Sketchy Sketch Show Satire · September 30, 2025 · 1h 2m

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Smith & Waugh Talk About Satire podcast page.