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.
December 4, 2003 - Harold Kushner, Rabbi Laureate of Temple Israel in the Boston suburb of Natick, Massachusetts, is probably best known for his 1981 international best seller, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People." But he's also written a number of other popular books, including "Living a Life that Matters," "Who Needs God," and "After the Darkest Hour the Sun will Shine Again: A Parent's Guide to Coping With the Loss of a Child." His latest book takes a somewhat different approach. It explains why the well known 23rd Psalm, "The Lord is My Shepherd," has proved so helpful to so many in times of distress. Rabbi Harold Kushner spoke last month at Wayzata Community Church at an event sponsered by Bookcase of Wayzata. He explained that he took a different approach to writing his latest book.
December 23, 2003 - The holidays often trigger the brightest of memories and the happiest of emotions. But, as writer Nanci Olesen explains, those memories can also bring on emotions that clash with the tenor of the season.
January 9, 2004 - A Macalester College professor who wrote a book about a 17th Century King in India is now worried about his collegues there who are being harrassed for helping him write the book. Professor Jim Laine wrote about an Indian King named Shivaji who established a Hindu Kingdom in the city of Pune in 1674. The Kingdom was located between two Muslim Kingdoms and Shivaji became a symbol of Hindu independence. Earlier this week, Hindu extremists in Pune rioted at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute where Laine did much of his research and some of those he acknowledged in the book for helping him have been subject to personal attacks. Joining us on the line is Macalester professor Jim Laine.
January 15, 2004 - A broadcast of Talking Volumes at the Fitzgerald Theater. Katherine Lanpher talks with former Minnesotan Jean Harfenist about her debut novel, A Brief History of the Flood. The book chronicles a girl's growing up in a troubled family.
January 23, 2004 - A Twin Cities speech by Abigail Thernstrom, author of "No Excuses: Closing the Racial Gap in Learning". Thernstrom says this is the central civil rights issue of our time. She spoke Thursday at the Center of the American Experiment.
January 23, 2004 - The St. Paul-based Great American History Theater's current production, "Joe", is about a former Catholic priest who becomes an advocate for poor people. The one man play is about Minneapolis activist Joe Selvaggio, the founder of Project of Pride in Living. PPL helps poor people find housing and work. Actor Jim Stowell shows Joe the rebellious Catholic priest, the protester and Joe the self-described pest as he raises money from rich people.
January 30, 2004 - Pulitzer Prize-winning author and columnist, Thomas Friedman, speaking Thursday on his experiences working in Minneapolis, Beirut, and Jerusalem. The event is sponsored by the Minnesota Newspaper Association. Friedman, a St. Louis Park native, is the author of many books, including "Longitudes and Attitudes: The World in the Age of Terrorism."
February 16, 2004 - What compells someone to run for president? Host Gary Eichten and his guest explore the characteristics of the men who have served as commander in chief.Guest: William Doyle, president historian and author of "Inside the Oval Office: The White House Tapes from FDR to Clinton."
February 18, 2004 - A speech by William Ouchi, education researcher, professor of management at UCLA, and author of "Making Schools Work: A Revolutionary Plan to Get Your Children the Education They Need." He spoke recently at a Minnesota Meeting event in Minneapolis.
February 24, 2004 - Photographer Jim Brandenburg reflects on his friend, Paul Gruchow, who died on February 22nd, 2004 in Duluth. Gruchow was 56 years old. Brandenburg worked with Gruchow at the Worthington newspaper and later collaborated with him on several books. He says he was inspired by his friend and co-worker.