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.
March 15, 1991 - MPR’s Beth Friend profiles St. Paul poet and essayist David Mura. Mura is interviewed about his experience getting a writing grant and moving to Japan for a year.
March 16, 1991 - On this Midday, a conversation with Larry Millett, staff writer on architecture and urban development for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Millet answers listener questions about architecture and buildings around the region.
March 16, 1991 - A Voices from the Heartland essay by writer and poet Laurie Allmann on ancient and modern rites. The piece is entitled Equinox.
March 25, 1991 - MPR’s Mark Heistad interviews editor of an annual published anthology that collects local women's stories. Segment includes a reading from publication.
April 4, 1991 - MPR’s Carol Shotzko reports on a storytelling festival being held in Austin, Minnesota. The event was begun by Michael Carter, a local farmer who founded the Austin Storytelling Festival during a bleak period in the town's history…the Hormel meat Packer strike of 1985-86.
April 6, 1991 - A Voices from the Heartland essay by writer and poet Laurie Allmann on on springtime, as frogs come out croaking.
April 9, 1991 - Morning Edition’s Beth Friend interviews Minnesota writer Carol Bly on her book, The Tomcat's Wife and Other Stories. Bly discusses how the book characters in small town find ‘fun.’
April 9, 1991 - Morning Edition’s Beth Friend interviews Minnesota writer Carol Bly on her book, The Tomcat's Wife and Other Stories. Bly details the book’s characters.
April 18, 1991 - MPR’s Jim Bickal interview Minnesota author Tim O’Brien. The Gulf War is a part of discussion.
April 20, 1991 - A Voices from the Heartland essay from writer and poet Laurie Allmann about Hope, Minnesota in the spring.