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.
September 27, 1999 - A Carlson Lecture by NBC-TV News Anchor Tom Brokaw. He is speaking at Northrop Auditorium at the University of Minnesota
September 27, 1999 - Novelist Roddy Doyle is famed for his evocative portraits of contemporary Irish life, his novel "The Committments" about a Dublin soul band was made into a hit film, and he won the Booker Prize for "Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha". In his new book "A Star Called Henry" he looks to Irish history, and the Easter Uprising of 1916 which lead to the formation of the Republic of Ireland.
September 27, 1999 - To close out the millennium, Minnesota Public Radio's All Things Considered presents a look back at Minnesota life in 1900 via a 12-part series, entitled “A Minnesota Century.” This segment is the the story of a woman who had mixed success as a novelist but eventually found her voice in the character of Betsy, whose antics and adventures mirrored Maud's real-life childhood in Mankato at the turn of the century.
September 29, 1999 - On Wednesday morning Garrison Keillor and August Wilson receive the National Humanities Medal from President Clinton. They, and the other recipients of this year's medal spoke at the National Endowment for the Humanities on Tuesday, and you can hear their remarks on Midday.
September 29, 1999 - In this audio segment, Garrison Keillor gives an acceptance speech after receiving a National Humanities Medal. At an event sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Keillor talks about the difference between being a writer and hosting A Prairie Home Companion.
September 29, 1999 - Eight people will be awarded the 1999 National Humanities Medal by President and Mrs. Clinton today at a special ceremony at the White House. Two of the medal winners are Garrison Keillor and August Wilson. Wilson now lives in Seattle, Washington, but he began his career as a playwright in St. Paul. At an event yesterday sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Wilson talked about what has inspired him as a writer. Garrison Keillor also spoke at yesterday's event. He talked about the difference between being a writer and hosting A Prairie Home Companion.
September 30, 1999 - Fall colors should be at their peak this weekend along the Saint Croix River near the Twin Cities. If you're planning a drive, and you want to see more than just leaves, you might want to listen a new tape that offers a guided tour to the historic spots and scenic views between Taylors Falls, Minnesota and Prescott, Wisconsin. Jim Shattattauer is the author of Secrets of the Saint Croix: Exploring the Hidden Treasures of the Saint Croix River Valley. He says the idea for the tape came to him while he was on vacation.
October 4, 1999 - A new poll shows Governor Ventura's approval rating has dropped 19 percentage points since July. The Star Tribune poll was taken a few days after release of Ventura's interview with Playboy magazine where he called organized religion a sham and a crutch for weak minded people. The poll shows 54 percent of Minnesotans approve of Ventura's overall job performance, compared with 73 percent last summer. We asked two MPR commentators for their thoughts on the governor's comments. Ken Stewart is a Family Therapist in Roseville.
October 4, 1999 - In Jonathon Lethem's new novel "Motherless Brooklyn" detective Lionel Essrog has to overcome several obstacles to solve the murder of his boss, not least the fact he has Tourettes Syndrome.
October 5, 1999 - Minnesotas black bear population continues to confound biologists. Once thought stable at about ten-thousand, the most recent survey estimated a total of almost three times that in the state.