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 26, 2010 - A Midday re-broadcast of "The Big Time: F. Scott Fitzgerald," a staged storytelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald's vision of making it big. The original MPR-commissioned production of words and music was written by Patricia Hampl, with music direction by Dan Chouinard, and features singer Blake Hazard, who is Fitzgerald's great-granddaughter.
November 30, 2010 - There's one holiday reunion local essayist Peter Smith isn't exactly looking forward to during the season. It’s all about the carbohydrate.
December 3, 2010 - A special broadcast of Kevin Kling's play, "Scarecrow on Fire." Based on the classic tale "The Wizard of Oz," the play picks up where that story left off. The production was commissioned by Minnesota Public Radio as part of the Fitzgerald Theater's 100th anniversary. The ensemble cast features Dan Chouinard as the Tin Man, Stephen Yoakam as the Lion, the Wizard, and others, Simone Perrin as Dorothy, and Kevin Kling as the Scarecrow.
December 3, 2010 - A special broadcast of Kevin Kling's play, "Scarecrow on Fire." Based on the classic tale "The Wizard of Oz," the play picks up where that story left off.
December 23, 2010 - MPR’s Kate Smith interviews author Greg Breining and photographer Layne Kennedy about their book “Paddle North,” which explores the Quetico-Boundary Waters. The two discusse the method, madness and philosophy of paddling Minnesota's big lakes and small streams.
February 3, 2011 - Pete Hautman has won a National Book Award for his young adult novels, and while he loves the genre, he says there are reasons not to write young adult fiction. He explains why, and talks about his newest novel.
February 18, 2011 - Midday presents A Prairie Home Companion host and creator Garrison Keillor speaking to an audience at Concordia University in St. Paul about the challenges he's had to face as a writer and how his upbringing has helped him deal with them.
March 14, 2011 - MPR’s Euan Kerr talks with Ojibwe writer Jim Northrup. For almost 22 years, Northrup has entertained and chastened readers of his syndicated “Fond Du Lacs Follies” newspaper column. He's covered everything from the rise of casinos and treaty rights, to his love of tapping trees for syrup, and harvesting wild rice…and he always included lots of jokes.
March 16, 2011 - Garrison Keillor says he's retiring. In an interview with AARP published on their website earlier today, Keillor said he plans to step down from hosting A Prairie Home Companion in the spring of 2013.
March 17, 2011 - MPR’s Marianne Combs reports on Garrison Keillor claiming he will retire in 2013, but would he actually? In an interview with AARP published on their website, Keillor said he plans to step down from hosting A Prairie Home Companion in the spring of 2013.