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 19, 2012 - Minnesota author Jim Heynen knows the landscape and life of the farm. He is a master of the short short story, and he's been called "a Hemingway of farm life." His new novel "The Fall of Alice K," is a love story set in an Iowa farm town he calls Dutch Center. Both Heynen and his protagonist Alice know this landscape well.
September 21, 2012 - As protests continue in the Middle East over an online video that mocked the Prophet Muhammad, our panel will look at the debate over art and free expression, and what happens when art provokes violence. Guests: Syl Jones: Journalist, author and playwright. His newest play, "Going Up," will be performed by the Mixed Blood Theater. Mohannad Ghawanmeh: Curator of The Twin Cities Arab Film Festival, producer, and senior instructor in communications and film at Dunwoody College of Technology.
September 21, 2012 - Roundtable: Amid Middle East protests, a look at free expression. Guests: Syl Jones, Andrew Karre, Mohannad Ghawanmeh.
October 2, 2012 - On this Daily Circuit program, MPR’s Kerri Miller talks with Native American author Louise Erdrich about her book “The Round House.” Erdrich describes the writing decisions and background to book.
October 8, 2012 - Stephen Smith, host of Bright Ideas, talks with playwright Christopher Hampton. They discuss Hampton's long career and his new work, "Appomattox." Also a screenwriter, Hampton won the Oscar for "Dangerous Liaisons" and was nominated for "Atonement." Hampton visited Minnesota for a festival of his plays at the Guthrie Theater.
November 13, 2012 - We continue our look at titles from the Library of Congress' 88 Books that Shaped America list with Dee Brown's "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee."
November 15, 2012 - Minnesota author Louise Erdrich won a big literary prize last night. She was given the National Book Award for fiction for her newest novel, "Roundhouse." In an interview excerpt, Erdrich talks about the need for solitude as she develops her characters. Segment also includes hosts discussing listener email and feedback about various news items.
November 15, 2012 - Pt.1: BBC reports: Gaza conflict and China leader change. Pt.2: Supreme Court wrestles with affirmative action, college admissions. Guests: Emily Bazelon, Richard Sander. Pt.3: Louise Erdrich wins national book prize and listener email and feedback.
November 21, 2012 - The National Book Awards were announced last week and today we'll hear Kerri Miller's conversations with two of the winners. Guests: Katherine Boo: Author and staff writer at The New Yorker and a former reporter and editor for The Washington Post. Louise Erdrich: Author of thirteen novels as well as volumes of poetry, short stories, children's books, and a memoir of early motherhood.
November 22, 2012 - A traditional noon hour Thanksgiving special from MPR's John Birge, featuring music and stories for Thanksgiving.