Collection
Writers and Their Voices
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.
438 Collection Items
- Pen Pals: Presidential biographer Jon Meacham
An MPR News Presents broadcast of Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential biographer Jon Meacham speaking at the Pen Pals Lecture Series. Meacham has written about Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, and President George H.W. Bush. Author says he writes biography rather than history, because history is shaped by individuals who, despite their flaws, do the right thing in moments of crisis.
- Literary Friendships: Dan Gioia and Kay Ryan
On this Literary Friendships event, host Garrison Keillor shares the stage with poets Dana Gioia and Kay Ryan. Both being California poets with working-class origins, the two became good friends.
- Literary Friendships: Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman
On this Literary Friendships event, host Garrison Keillor shares the stage with married writers Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman who have ten novels and four children. Chabon and Waldman met on a blind date eleven years ago and were engaged to be married three weeks later. He writes at night; she writes during the day. They live in California with their four young children.
- Literary Friendships: Robert Bly and Donald Hall
On this Literary Friendships event, host Garrison Keillor shares the stage with Robert Bly and Donald Hall, leading figures in American letters. The two met as undergraduates at Harvard in the late 1940s, where Bly first published Hall's poetry in the school literary journal. Through letters and visits, they've corresponded for over 50 years.
- Regina McBride discusses her novel "The Land of Women"
MPR’s Greta Cunningham interviews author Regina McBride about her novel The Land of Women, which tells of a complex relationship between mother and daughter.
- Doris Kearns Goodwin - "Walking with Our Daughters into the 20th Century" speech
Historian and baseball fan Doris Kearns Goodwin speaks about presidents, sports, and family in her address, Walking with Our Daughters into the 20th Century.
- Doris Kearns Goodwin speech at University of Minnesota Alumni Association
A Midday broadcast of noted historian Doris Kearns Goodwin speaking at University of Minnesota Alumni Association. Goodwin talks about her work as a presidential historian and her love of baseball.
- A conversation with Doris Kearns Goodwin about baseball, presidents, and her memoir
A Midday rebroadcast of historian Doris Kearns Goodwin's November 13th, 1997 appearance on Minnesota Public Radio. Goodwin talks with host Gary Eichten about Wait Till Next Year, her memoir on growing up in 1950s New York suburbs. She also discusses baseball, writing political biographies, and answers listener questions.
- Frank Premack Memorial Lecture: Molly Ivins speech on the "meanness" of 1990s politics
Author and columnist Molly Ivins is guest speaker for this Frank Premack Memorial Lecture at University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute. Ivins talks the meanness of contemporary politics.
- Westminster Townhall Forum: Michael Lerner - Transcending Racism and Hate
Midday presents a live broadcast of the Westminster Town Hall Forum, featuring author Rabbi Michael Lerner. The title of his presentation is “Transcending Racism and Hate.”