Aug 9th, 2004 · In 1854, a thick book of meditations about a New England pond appeared in bookstores. It took five years to sell those first 2,000 copies, but 150 years later, Henry David Thoreau's Walden is considered a classic of American literature. Join NPR's Neal Conan and his guests to celebrate the anniversary and the history of the man and his book.
Jul 28th, 2004 · San Francisco Chronicle book critic David Kipen checks in with his literary review of the 9-11 Commission's report, now a nation-wide bestseller.
Jul 23rd, 2004 · Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl offers some summer reading recommendations, with the proviso that they're not exactly literature. Hear Pearl and NPR's Steve Inskeep.
Jul 17th, 2004 · A lively new book for children who aren't averse to a bit of verse, The Pelican Chorus and Other Nonsense features the poems of Edward Lear and the illustrations of Fred Marcellino. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and children's literature aficionado Daniel Pinkwater.
Jul 15th, 2004 · For centuries, writers have used the pen to chronicle the deeds of the sword. From The Iliad to Catch-22, literature often gives a more nuanced account than history books or news reports. NPR's Lynn Neary talks with several authors about their work, as our "Writers' Views" series continues with a look at war.
Jul 13th, 2004 · NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Ilan Stavans, editor of the new three-volume series Isaac Bashevis Singer Collected Stories. The Library of America published the collection, signaling that Singer's work is part of the American canon of great literature. This year marks the centenary for the birth of the Yiddish storyteller. Singer, born in Poland, immigrated to the United States in 1935. In 1978, he won the Nobel Prize for literature, the only Yiddish writer to be so honored.
Jul 12th, 2004 · Members Michael Hearst and Joshua Camp talk about their new CD, As Smart as We Are, which is a blend of literature and music. Each track is written by a different author, including Paul Auster and Margaret Atwood.