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 8, 1994 - Midmorning’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Minnesota poet Bill Holm about the loss of his literary friend, Frederick Manfred.
September 8, 1994 - In a moment of remembrance after the passing of the Minnesota writer Frederick Manfred, MPR’s Euan Kerr reads from Manfred’s famous novel, Lord Grissly.
September 8, 1994 - Upon the death of Frederick Manfred, Mainstreet Radio’s Mark Steil presents a profile of the well-regarded Midwest writer. Segment includes interview clips with Manfred and an old friend of the author.
September 8, 1994 - A short audio clip of an old interview with American writer Frederick Manfred. The author recollects on a personal memory about the land of southern Minnesota.
September 16, 1994 - On this installment of Voices from the Heartland, local travel writer John Shepard thinks back to his experience traversing the peatlands in Minnesota.
September 16, 1994 - Northern Minnesota nature writer and firefighter Peter Leschak talks about his book, Seeing the Raven: A Narrative of Renewal. Leschak also reads from book and discusses environment aspects of the woods.
September 17, 1994 - On this Saturday Midday, Tom Perich, author of Fishing Lake Superior and The North Shore, discusses the various things to do along Lake Superior. Perich also answers listener questions.
September 20, 1994 - Minnesota boater and author Marlin Bree reads of his experience on the waters of Lake Superior with his sail boat, the Persistence, during a violent northeaster.
September 23, 1994 - Garrison Keillor reads an excerpt from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
September 23, 1994 - All Things Considered’s John Rabe asks Garrison Keillor for his opinion on Minnesota native F. Scott Fitzgerald. Keillor shares kind words of the writer’s style and discusses Fitzgerald’s feelings towards St. Paul (the famed author had some “not-so-kind’ words regarding his birthplace).