Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'literature'

Controversy Embroils Nobel Literature Prize

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:59:00 EDT

The 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature is announced this morning and it's already drawing attention — for the wrong reasons. Last week, a Nobel official seemed to nix the possibility of an American winner when he said, "Europe still is the center of the literary world ... not the United States."

French Novelist Awarded Nobel Literature Prize

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EDT

French novelist Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio has been awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize for literature. Antoine Compagnon, a professor of French Literature at Columbia University, offers his insight about the writer and his work.

Pianist Gary Graffman: Left-Handed Miracles

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:33:00 EDT

Due to a fluke injury, pianist Gary Graffman was robbed of the use of his right hand at the piano. He makes up for the loss by excelling in the intriguing literature written for the left hand alone. Hear the venerable pianist in concert.

French Novelist Wins Nobel Prize In Literature

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:29:00 EDT

The Swedish Academy announced Thursday that Jean-Maria Gustave Le Clezio won the 2008 Nobel Prize in literature. The acadmy praised Le Clezio for his adventurous novels, essays and children's literature.

'Anna K.,' From Russia — With Love — To Queens

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:06:00 EDT

Modernizing a familiar novel is a literary parlor trick. Crafting a fresh, moving interpretation of one of literature's great narratives is an achievement. Irina Reyn's What Happened To Anna K. is unquestionably a case of the latter.

Anais Mitchell On Mountain Stage

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:40:00 EDT

The Vermont-born singer-songwriter finds a creative home in the place where literature and folk art meet. Here, she brings her distinctive voice to Mountain Stage, where she previews material from the folk opera she's currently producing.

Beauty And Mischief In 'Anne Of Green Gables'

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Modern Library has released a special edition of Anne of Green Gables in honor of the book's centennial. Writer Gwenda Bond, who blogs about children's books and young-adult literature, discusses the importance of L.M. Montgomery's classic novel and her personal attachment to Anne.

Literary Adventures To Occupy The Long Weekend

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EDT

We look at some the most exciting pieces of new literature. City of Thieves by David Benioff, The Spies of Warsaw by Alan Furst and The Finder by Colin Harrison top the list.

An Unflinching, 'Street' View of the American Dream

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:19:00 EDT

Twenty years ago, author and literature professor Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina was looking for an undiscovered classic for her African-American-fiction class. What she found was Ann Petry's The Street, and she's been teaching it ever since.

Authors Debate Ethics of Writing Private for Public

Thu, 01 May 2008 12:53:00 EDT

Is it ever OK for writers to tell private stories for the good of the public? In a round-table discussion, three prominent writers — Annie Proulx, Uzodinma Iweala, and Michael Ondaatje — talk about the role of privacy in the public world of literature and the media.

Planting Trees in Memory of Lives Lost

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Richard Shryock, Virginia Tech's chairman of foreign languages and literatures, lost two faculty members and 15 students in his department in last April's shootings. A year later, he's planting trees in quiet reflection over their loss.

Books: A Canary in the Relationship Coal Mine...

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:19:00 EDT

Rachel Donadio talks about her essay in Sunday's New York Times, "It's Not You, It's Your Books." She writes that mismatched literary tastes can make it "chillingly clear that a romance is going nowhere fast." Does love conquer literature? Listeners weigh in.

We We Can Learn from Hypocrisy in Literature

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:30:00 EDT

What can we learn from fiction about embattled New York governor Eliot Spitzer? UC Berkeley English professor Catherine Gallagher discusses classic examples of hypocrisy.

Owner of Trailblazing Bookstore Chain Pulls the Plug

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST

Karibu Books was the nation's largest black-owned chain of bookstores, specializing in African-American oriented literature. But after 15 years in operation, the CEO decided to pull the plug on Karibu, to the surprise of many. Simba Sana says his own spiritual growth aided in his decision to close shop.

PBS to Air Adaptations of Jane Austen Novels

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:00:00 EST

Andrew Davies is the go-to screenwriter for adapting classic literature for television and the movies. He adapts Northanger Abbey and Sense and Sensibility as PBS prepares to air The Complete Jane Austen.

How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 06:00:00 EST

Pierre Bayard, professor of French literature at the University of Paris, is the author of How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read. Steve Inskeep hasn't read Bayard's book, but he gets some tips on how to talk about it.

'Chick-lits' Hit Indian Book Stands

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST

In a stark change to conventional Indian literature, chick-lit novels are gaining popularity in Indian society. As a part of the program's Next Big Thing series, author Swati Kaushal discusses her novel, which many call the first Indian chick-lit, and the necessity for this genre in Indian culture.

Book Reflects on Overlooked Role of Aunts

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST

The Complete Book of Aunts covers everything from aunts in literature and film, to remembrances from nieces and nephews who had unusual relationships with their aunts. Rupert Christiansen, co-author, speaks with NPR's Scott Simon.

West Point and War Transform English Teacher

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:29:00 EDT

As an English teacher at West Point, Elizabeth Samet teaches America's future warriors about Shakespeare, Emerson and Homer. In her new book, Soldier's Heart: Teaching Literature through Peace and War at West Point, Samet shares her decade of experience at the military academy.

Novels You Wish a Teacher Would Assign

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 07:55:00 EDT

High school student Amber Gibson explores the finalists in the National Book Awards category for young people's literature.

Unconventional Education Fuels Author's First Novel

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 10:30:00 EDT

Austin Grossman's first book is a novel of super heroes and evil geniuses. From member station KUSP, Rick Kleffel has the story of how a literature-major turned videogame designer has returned to writing.

Publishing Company Called Out over 'Ghetto Lit'

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:07:00 EDT

Author Terry McMillan sent a letter to Simon & Schuster's head editors, blasting them and the publishing world for publishing and promoting so-called "ghetto lit," which is often referred to as urban literature and urban fiction. Many esteemed black authors have been equally dismayed, but the McMillan broadside is now loosening lips.

Literature Nobel Awarded to Writer Doris Lessing

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:21:00 EDT

Best known for her 1962 novel The Golden Notebook, Lessing's life work spans more than a half century. The British author is the 11th woman and the oldest writer to win the Nobel literature award.

British Writer Lessing Wins Nobel Prize for Literature

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 09:37:35 EDT

British writer Doris Lessing has won the 2007 Nobel Prize for Literature. She is the author of dozens of works from short stories to science fiction. She also wrote extensively about gender and various cultures. The award was announced in Sweden.

Lessing Wins Nobel Prize in Literature

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 07:30:00 EDT

Roth, Oz, Murakami Favored for Nobel