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.
December 10, 1994 - MPR presents various readings from a collection of essays written by teenagers about their life experience. Topics include isolation, sexual orientation, race, and despair.
December 10, 1994 - On this Weekend program, Carol Erdahl, co-owner of the Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, talks about children's books. Topics include picture books, characters, and parent awareness of subject matter. Erdahl also shares book recommendations and answers listener questions.
December 12, 1994 - MPR’s Beth Friend interviews author Jane Pejsa about her book “Gratia Countryman: Her Life, Her Loves and Her Library.” The book details the life of Gratia Countryman, a nationally known librarian who led the Minneapolis Public Library from 1904 to 1936. She was a pioneer in outreach and creating accessibility to books for the greater public.
December 15, 1994 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Minneosta poets Diane Glancy and C. W. Truesdale about the book “Two Worlds Walking: Short Stories, Essays, and Poetry by Writers of Mixed Heritages" that they edited. Segment includes Glancy doing short readings.
December 16, 1994 - In this segment of Voices from the Heartland, Minnesota author Susan Carol Hauser reads her Christmas essay “Finest Gifts,” a loving reflection of Christmas past with family.
December 21, 1994 -
December 21, 1994 -
December 23, 1994 -
December 23, 1994 - MPR’s Marlana Benzie-Lourey interviews Duluth poet Louis Jenkins about his book "Nice Fish." Jenkins reads title poem of book.
December 23, 1994 - Fans of the 19th century American writer Louisa May Alcott have a lot to be excited about these days. Not only is the new movie of "Little Women" out and receiving rave reviews, but a new, never-published, rather steamy Alcott manuscript has suddenly emerged! "A Long Fatal Love Chase" is the literary find.