The Western literary canon is a subject of discourse. Where does it fit in the modern world? While the works of Shakespeare, Plato, and Jane Austen, among others, are important works that have been the framework of our collective literary heritage, how does that impact those kept traditionally left out of those conversations? Marginalized voices have advocated for reimagining these stories to make them more diverse, expanding the canon to be more inclusive and/or just chucking the idea of a “western canon” in general.

Unabridged is made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Democracy demands wisdom.