This collection encompasses 50-plus years of interviews, readings, speeches, and reports on the vibrant literary scene in Minnesota. Not only home to giants F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sinclair Lewis, our state has an array of incredible contemporary poets, novelists, and playwrights. Their words make up majority of this collection.
Repeatedly being named the “Most Literate City in the United States,” the Twin Cities has played host to numerous visiting national writers via book tours, festivals, and lectures. Many recordings of these are also included.
This project was funded by the National Historical Publications & Records Commission.
April 23, 2001 - First Hour: Longtime Twin Cities television and newspaper reporter Dave Nimmer talks about the state of journalism today. Nimmer received this year's Graven Award for lifetime contributions to journalism at the Minnesota Journalism Center at the University of Minnesota.
May 3, 2001 - One of Minnesota's award-winning children's authors is out with a new book. Kate Dicamillo's won the Newbery Honor for her first story, "Because of Winn-Dixie." Now she's written "The Tiger Rising," which follows a boy named Rob, his friend Sistine, and a live tiger Rob finds while walking through the Florida woods. Dicamillo says her main goal was to write a good story.
May 4, 2001 - Second Hour: Live broadcast from the National Press Club: Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Tapes are available through the National Press Club.
May 7, 2001 - First Hour: U. S. Senator Paul Wellstone answers listener questions about priorities in Congress and his new book The Conscience of a Liberal.
May 8, 2001 - A St. Paul art history professor who secretly photographs women and then kills them is John Sandford's villain in his new book "CHOSEN PREY." In the 12th book in a best-selling series, Sandford's detective hero, Lucas Davenport wrestles with his personal life even as he chases the serial killer through the Twin Cities. Sandford was a reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press newspaper. He left journalism several years ago to begin writing the "Prey" books. Sandford told Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cunningham sticking with the same main character though so many stories introduces some challenges.
May 8, 2001 - A St. Paul art history professor who secretly photographs women and then kills them is John Sandford's villain in his new book "Chosen Prey." In the 12th book in a best-selling series, Sandford's detective hero, Lucas Davenport wrestles with his personal life even as he chases the serial killer through the Twin Cities. Sandford was a reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press newspaper. He left journalism several years ago to begin writing the "Prey" books.
May 9, 2001 - Live coverage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's address as part of the Distinguished Carlson Lecture Series at Northrop Auditorium. Following the speech and audience questions, MPR host Dan Olson speaks with three guests: Hamline University Religion Professor Mark Berkson, St. John's University Asian History Professor Richard Bohr, and local Tibetan leader Wangyal Ritzekura.
May 10, 2001 - Second Hour: A speech by author Ernest Gaines. He wrote A Lesson Before Dying. He spoke at the Hennepin County. Tapes are available through the Hennepin County Library Foundation.
May 14, 2001 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy about politics and a new documentary about his life, titled “I'm Sorry I Was Right.” McCarthy also answers listener questions.
May 17, 2001 - Over the last few weeks bright orange and black butterflies have been returning to the Minnesota landscape. As ever the Monarchs look remarkably fresh for having flown a long and circuitous route from their winter homes in Mexico. That journey has long been a source of fascination and mystery to humans. Every year volunteers, many of them school students, tag thousand of butterflies in the hope they will be captured in Mexico, and reveal a little more about how the Monarchs make their trip. For her book "Four Wings and a Prayer" author Sue Halpern spent almost a year travelling the Monarch flyways meeting the scientists and others who are trying to piece the puzzle together. She told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr her fascination began in Mexico. Author Sue Halpern will read from her book "Four Wings and a Prayer" at the Como Lakeside Pavilion on North Lexington Avenue in St Paul tonight at 7.