Repeatedly 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. This curation presents broadcasts over the decades of writer’s voices in form of speech, interview, and discussion.
October 8, 1980 - As the first part of Walker Art Center's 1980 Literature Series with guest Imamu Amiri Baraka begins, MPR’s Nancy Fushan profiles the author. Program includes a re-broadcast of audio from 1978 North Dakota Writers Conference, in which Baraka, William Burroughs, and Tillie Olson participated.
October 27, 1980 - MPR’s Nancy Fushan talks with American writer Marisha Chamberlain about Willa, a play about Willa Cather’s life. The play is presented by the Illusion Theater in Minneapolis.
February 18, 1981 - On this Midday program, author and illustrator Tomie dePaola talks about writing children's books and answers listener questions. He also discusses the stage version of his children's book, Clown of God, being produced by the Children's Theater Company of Minneapolis.
March 7, 1981 - Playwright Corinne Jacker discusses her plays Bits and Pieces, performed by the At Random company at the Hennepin Center for the Arts; and Domestic Issues, which will be read at the Playwrights' Center.
May 29, 1981 - MPR’s Bob Aronson talks with Fred Friendly about his book Near vs. Minnesota - Minnesota Rag: The Dramatic Story of the Landmark Supreme Court Case That Gave New Meaning to Freedom of the Press. Friendly summarizes the history and impact of case.
June 20, 1981 - MPR’s Nancy Fushan interviews author Pamela Cumings about her book Widow's Walk: A Personal Journey Through Loss, Fear, Anger and Love.
July 5, 1981 - A Midday interview with economist and author John Kenneth Galbraith on his published autobiography, A Life in Our Times: Memoirs.
October 1, 1981 - Midday presents a National Town Meeting about the great American novel with authors Francine Gray and Larry McMurtry.
October 7, 1981 - MPR's Nancy Fushan interviews 1980 Nobel Prize for Literature winner Czeslaw Milosz. Born in Poland but now living and teaching in the United States, Milosz talks about his poetry, the United States, his native country of Poland, and writing.
October 31, 1981 - MPR’s Dale Connelly interviews Australian author Colleen McCullough about her book An Indecent Obsession and it’s potential adaptation to the screen. The book tells the story of a nurse who works in a psychiatric ward for World War II soldiers and develops a forbidden attraction to a new, highly decorated patient.