The Book Club: Why put an elephant on an obelisk?

What this episode covers

In this week's books podcast, Sam's guest is that man of parts Loyd Grossman. Loyd's new book is An Elephant in Rome: Bernini, the Pope, and the Making of the Eternal City, which explores the titanic influence of Bernini on the Rome we see today, and his partnership with Pope Alexander VII. Loyd tells Sam why you couldn't bring Italian Baroque home to meet your parents, about Bernini's far from congenial character - and why you'd stick an obelisk on top of an elephant anyway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Best of the Spectator?

This episode is 37 minutes long.

When was this Best of the Spectator episode published?

This episode was published on August 19, 2020.

What is this episode about?

In this week's books podcast, Sam's guest is that man of parts Loyd Grossman. Loyd's new book is An Elephant in Rome: Bernini, the Pope, and the Making of the Eternal City, which explores the titanic influence of Bernini on the Rome we see today,...

Can I download this Best of the Spectator episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.