
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


This episode traces the origins of names from classic novels and theatre plays, uncovering the stories behind characters and their creators. You may not recognise the name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, but you'll know his pen name, which was crafted from variants of his own. Learn the likely reason Oscar Wilde chose the name Dorian for his character, how the name Macbeth is linked to an alcoholic beverage, and how Ophelia connects to a mosquito. Also explored are the surname origins of characters from Jane Austen stories, including Darcy, Ferrars, Bennet and Price.
By Leon Bailey-Green4.5
1414 ratings
This episode traces the origins of names from classic novels and theatre plays, uncovering the stories behind characters and their creators. You may not recognise the name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, but you'll know his pen name, which was crafted from variants of his own. Learn the likely reason Oscar Wilde chose the name Dorian for his character, how the name Macbeth is linked to an alcoholic beverage, and how Ophelia connects to a mosquito. Also explored are the surname origins of characters from Jane Austen stories, including Darcy, Ferrars, Bennet and Price.

78,411 Listeners

38,891 Listeners

25,841 Listeners

125 Listeners

228 Listeners

112,593 Listeners

56,575 Listeners

24,390 Listeners

1,405 Listeners

53 Listeners

2,133 Listeners

14,802 Listeners

2,817 Listeners

2,124 Listeners

871 Listeners