In this episode, Kaylia is joined by real-life archeologist Matthew to discuss this real-life event that was heavily changed to be a novel that was then heavily changed to be a movie. Join us for a discussion of archeology, history, badly inserted queer plotlines, and what Kaylia deems as an unforgivable literary sin.

The Dig is a historical novel by John Preston, published in May 2007, set in the context of the 1939 Anglo-Saxon ship burial excavation at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, England. The dust jacket describes it as “a brilliantly realized account of the most famous archaeological dig in Britain in modern times”.The author employs a degree of literary licence so that the account in the book differs in various ways from the real events of the Sutton Hoo excavations.

The Dig is a 2021 British drama film directed by Simon Stone, based on the 2007 novel of the same name by John Preston, which reimagines the events of the 1939 excavation of Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, England. It stars Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James, Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott, Archie Barnes, and Monica Dolan.It had a limited release on 14 January 2021, followed by streaming on Netflix on 29 January 2021. The film received positive reviews from critics and received five nominations for the British Academy Film Awards, including one for Outstanding British Film.

Cohost: Matthew

Matthew is an archeologist by day, a podcaster by weekend, an RP Gamer by night, and a guitarist with his backyard band, No Shop Talk, every now and then. He is an awesome dad and husband, and he hates pineapple on pizza.

This Pages and Popcorn Podcast episode was produced by Kaylia Metcalfe and featured “Pages and Popcorn Podcast Theme” performed by M.D. Arms, Kaylia Metcalfe, and The Kiddo-Cat