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 4, 1994 - On this installment of Voices from the Heartland, Minnesota author Barton Sutter reads Finlandia at Fourteen Below, an essay on the inspiration of music in life.
March 5, 1994 - MPR’s Chris Roberts interviews former Minnesota U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy on his thoughts of poetry and politics.
March 11, 1994 - On this installment of Voices from the Heartland, Minnesota travel writer John Shepard reads Fire and Heat at Prairie Island, an essay on Shepard’s visit to Joe Campbell’s home, located within the Prairie Island Indian community and near a radioactive power plant.
March 18, 1994 - On this installment of Voices from the Heartland, Twin Cities native and author Susan Carol Hauser reads her essay on the signs of late winter/early spring in Minnesota.
March 23, 1994 - Morning Edition’s Bob Potter talks with Edina author Sandra Benitez, won the Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers award for A Place Where the Sea Remembers. Benitez also reads from book.
March 31, 1994 - In a Midmorning interview, American writer Gary Paulsen talks about dog sledding and his book, Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod.
March 31, 1994 - MPR’s Eaun Kerr profiles the Illusion Theater production of Hard Times Come Again No More, a play based on the writings by Meridel Le Sueur. Segment includes interviews and performance clips.
April 5, 1994 - Twin Cities native and author Susan Carol Hauser shares an essay on the experience of growing older.
April 5, 1994 - American academic Karlyn Kohrs Campbell explains the meaning and role of First Lady in U.S. politics. Hillary Rodham Clinton and the press are discussed, along with a mention of the first female president with her spouse.
April 6, 1994 - MPR’s Euan Kerr interviews local Black author Alexs D. Pate about his novel, Losing Absalom, and the health and natural deaths of African American fathers.