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 27, 1992 - On this segment of Voices from the Heartland, Minnesota writer Laurie Allmann reads her essay about the landscapes of Minnesota in the areas she grew up in.
November 27, 1992 - Scott Walker, editor of Graywolf Annual Nine: Stories from the New Europe, discusses diversity in Europe. Walker is co-founder of Graywolf Press.
December 1, 1992 - MPR’s Joe Kelly reports on a Duluth public reading of poetry about people’s experiences with AIDS, sponsored by local group Poetry Harbor.
December 4, 1992 - On this segment of Voices from the Heartland, Minnesota journalist, author, and educator Dave Nimmer reads the essay, Handful of Memories.
December 4, 1992 - A Midmorning conversation with Minnesota journalist, author, and educator Dave Nimmer about his memoir, The Journey Goes On. Nimmer presents an autobiographical collection of short stories about the milestones on his journey.
December 4, 1992 - MPR’s Donna Nicholson reports on “The Way Life Is, Street Views from Downtown Saint Paul,” a newspaper created by homeless individuals in St. Paul. The paper provides a glimpse of who the homeless are and offers insights into their life experiences.
December 10, 1992 - MPR’s Perry Finelli interviews American biologist David Mech about research on wolves and Wolves of the High Arctic, a continuation on published works he has done observing the life of the Arctic wolf.
December 11, 1992 - On this Voices from the Heartland, Duluth writer Barton Sutter looks back on elections in his life. It is an emotional experience.
December 17, 1992 - Minnesota author Deborah Stein talks about her book, Colors: Multicultural Inspirations for Growth and Recovery. The work is designed to support people in recovery through a lens of cultural diversity.
December 18, 1992 - On this segment of Voices from the Heartland, Douglas Wood reads from Paddle Whispers. Wood’s book is an inner journey to joy and meaning in nature…and in oneself.