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.
May 17, 2011 - The weather has taken a turn for the better, and for a lot of Minnesotans, that means turning one's attention to chores and yard work. All of which reminds essayist Peter Smith of one chore he's been putting off for far too long.
May 21, 2011 - The Current presents “Boy from the North Country: Bob Dylan in Minnesota,” an MPR News documentary which explores Bob Dylan's Minnesota roots and how they influenced the evolution of his music.
May 24, 2011 - The Mixed Blood Theater in Minneapolis announced today it will no longer charge admission for its mainstage productions. Artistic director Jack Reuler calls the new policy "Radical Hospitality." He says it just makes sense in fulfilling Mixed Blood's mission of providing theater to all.
May 30, 2011 - While researching her best selling book "Seabiscuit," Laura Hillenbrand stumbled across an article on Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete who endured incredible hardships during World War II. She reached out to him and forged a connection that she chronicles in her latest book. Guest: Laura Hillenbrand: Author of "Seabiscuit." Her latest book is called "Unbroken." A capin in the woods. Author Sarah Stonich spent 10 years building a cabin "smaller than Thoreau's." In her new book, Stonich examines her desire to recreate her own childhood memories and provide a sense of place for her son. Guest: Sarah Stonich: Author of "Shelter." Her previous books include "These Granite Islands" and "The Ice Chorus."
June 1, 2011 - MPR’s Euan Kerr visits the shoreline of Lake Superior to interview Duluth-based author Danielle Sosin about her book "The Long-Shining Waters." The novel intertwines the stories of three women living next to the big lake at different times in history. The highly praised book took Sosin eight years to complete.
June 14, 2011 - MPR’s Chris Roberts interviews Bob Mould, co-founder of the seminal Minneapolis punk band Husker Du, as well as the hit-making alt rock group Sugar. Mould discusses and reads from his autobiography "See a Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody." Segment includes various comments from music contemporaries.
July 21, 2011 - Art theft is one of the profitable criminal enterprises in the world, exceeding $6 billion in losses to galleries and art collectors. But art heists are not always as clever as they appears in the movies. A new book reveals some of the actors involved in the great Rembrandt heists of the past century, and their often clumsy methods.J.K. Rowling announced this month the launch of a new Harry Potter site, Pottermore.com. The site will be the exclusive distributor of Potter eBooks and will provide what Rowling calls a "unique online reading experience." Today, we talk about what to expect from Pottermore and the future of e-books.
August 1, 2011 - Euan Kerr interviews Minnesota poet Robert Bly about his collection "Talking into the Ear of a Donkey." Bly reads from book. Segment also includes commentary about Bly from fellow poets Jim Lenfestey and Garrison Keillor, and wife Ruth.
August 19, 2011 - Architectural historian Larry Millett has written beautiful and informative books about Minnesota's most interesting homes and buildings. His newest book, "Once There Were Castles," describes 90 mansions and estates that have disappeared from Minnesota. Are there homes or buildings that you remember from the past? Some gems still standing?
August 21, 2011 - Mark Wheat and Neil Gaiman