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.
February 26, 1993 - On this segment of Voices from the Heartland, a reading of author F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Absolution.
March 1, 1993 - Minnesota author Gary Paulsen shares details on his research for book, Nightjohn. Paulsen, a writer of children's and young adult fiction, also comments on the importance of children in our culture.
March 2, 1993 - A Midmorning interview with local historian Peter Rachleff about his book, Hard-Pressed in the Heartland: The Hormel Strike and the Future of the Labor Movement.
March 11, 1993 - Midmorning’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Karen Nelson Hoyle, historian and expert in children's literature at University of Minnesota, about the life and works of children’s writer and artist Wanda Gág.
March 11, 1993 - Gary Harm, grand-nephew of Minnesota artist and children’s book author Wanda Gág, reads Millions of Cats. Millions of Cats won the 1929 Newbery Honor and remains one of the oldest American picture books still in print.
March 12, 1993 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Minnesota poet Phebe Hanson about her poetry, the concept of “Minnesota Nice," life for women in the state, and a conference Hanson will speak at that celebrates Minnesota women as part of national Women's History Month.
March 12, 1993 - On this segment of Voices from the Heartland, northern Minnesota writer Barton Sutter reads his essay, Sister City, which is about the Duluth sister city Superior, Wisconsin.
March 18, 1993 - American writer Natalie Goldberg reads from her book, Long Quiet Highway: Waking Up in America. This reading excerpt reflects on Zen master Katagiri Roshi.
March 18, 1993 - MPR’s Beth Friend profiles Abraham Rodriguez’s Spidertown: A Novel. Segment includes interview with Rodriguez and reading from book by the author.
March 19, 1993 - Worldview’s Mike Maus talks with Susan Allen Toth about My Love Affair with England: A Traveler's Memoir. Toth begins segment with a reading from her book.