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 13, 1987 - Host and authors Patricia Hampl and Carol Bly present the seventh installment of Hampl and Bly on Books, a collaboration between MPR and The Loft. The program includes a look at religious characters, novellas, and listener correspondence.
December 20, 1987 - Host and authors Patricia Hampl and Carol Bly present the final installment of Hampl and Bly on Books, a collaboration between MPR and The Loft. The program includes a look at winter, book selections, and poet William Trevor.
January 8, 1988 - MPR’s Bob Potter talks with Minnesota poet and author Bill Holm about teacher exchange program. Holm also answers listener questions.
February 1, 1988 - On this Midday, Star Tribune columnist Jim Klobuchar and fellow mountain climber Rod Wilson answer listener questions about their adventures.
March 12, 1988 - Star Tribune food writer Al Sicherman takes listener questions about cooking, cuisine, and related topics.
April 17, 1988 - Larry Millett, architecture writer for the Pioneer Press Dispatch, talks about the unique architecture of the Twin Cities. Program also includes listeners call in with their questions.
May 16, 1988 - Mainstreet Radio-Brainerd’s Leif Enger rides along for the day for group fishing launch onto Mille Lacs Lake with Joe Fellegy, a local historian, musician, writer, and fishing expert. Report includes various interviews.
August 20, 1988 - MPR’s Mark Heistad interviews author Thomas Vennum about his book, Wild Rice and the Ojibway People. Vennum discusses the experience of harvesting wild rice and its importance to the Ojibwe People.
September 19, 1988 - MPR’s Jim Bickal presents an interview with novelists and partners Louise Erdrich and Michael Dorris. The two writers comment on their writing process, novels, and nonfiction.
November 2, 1988 - MPR’s Stephen Smith profiles Minnesota author J. F. Powers. Segment includes an interview with author about the topic of religion and his book, Wheat that Springeth Green.