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.
November 18, 1999 - Walter Kirn lives in Montana where he works as a book critic. But he grew up in Minnesota, and so its not surpring his new novel "Thumbsucker" is set in the St Croix River Valley. Although it's probably not going to please the Minnesota Tourist board. Kirn's satirical view of rural Minnesota in the 1980's is a turbulant world of Miami Vice, Izod shirts and Mormons. In a town gone suburban, 14-year-old Justin, gives up thumbsucking his long-time security blanket, only to replace it with girls, cigarettes, booze and drugs. With adults too self-absored to care, Justin is forced to navigate the bizarre waters of adolesence alone.
November 22, 1999 - For more on the design of the Lindbergh terminal, we turn to Michael Schrock. He's a Minneapolis architect who's done some recent work at the terminal, and is also president-elect of the Minneapolis chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
November 25, 1999 - A Thanksgiving Day special, "Giving Thanks: A Celebration of Fall, Food and Gratitude." Produced by MPR's John Birge, it includes a rare recording of actor Charles Laughton, essays by Bill Moyers, Donald Hall and Garrison Keillor, and the music of Aaron Copeland, Vivaldi and more.
November 25, 1999 - It's the time of year for pausing to consider what we are thankful for, which as commentator Nanci Olesen found out, can evoke a range of emotions.
November 26, 1999 - MPR’s Greta Cunningham interviews Minnesota author Tom Hegg about his "Cup of Christmas Tea" books. Hegg hopes his titles can help people relax and focus on the true meaning of the holidays.
December 3, 1999 - Minnesota author Frederick Manfred was so dedicated to his creative calling that despite writing 33 books, he was frequently broke. The critically acclaimed author of Lord Grizzly, The Golden Bowl, and This is the Year died in 1994. While he was good at getting his books published, he was not as adept at negotiating his pay. In her new memoir, Frederick Manfred: A Daughter Remembers, Freya Manfred says her father didn't have a lot growing up and in some ways it's surprising he went on to become a respected literary force.
December 8, 1999 - Historian and baseball fan Doris Kearns Goodwin will talk about presidents, sports, and family in her speech, "Walking with Our Daughters into the 20th Century."
December 9, 1999 - Writer Bill Holm reflects on Christmas letters in this Voices of Minnesota holiday favorite. Originally broadcast in 1997.
December 12, 1999 -
December 12, 1999 -