Joan Didion, who died last week at the age of 87, helped shape a highly personal brand of nonfiction that came to be known as the New Journalism. Her early essay collections "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" (1968) and "The White Album" (1979) influenced generations of writers. Her later memoirs, "The Year of Magical Thinking" and "Blue Nights," chronicled the deaths of her husband and daughter. In 2011 Didion talked with Steve Paulson about illness and growing old in the wake of the death of her daughter, Quintana.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Norman George wrote and stars in “Poe Alone” - a play set during the writer’s last public lecture.
Nicholas Carr believes the Internet is rewiring the human brain with its instant access to all sorts of information. Are we losing our ability to focus on one thing for any length of time?
Robert Gordon talks with Steve Paulson about Muddy Waters and his music, placing him at the crux of the blues and rock.
Meg Graham is the co-author (with Alec Shuldiner) of “Corning and the Craft of Innovation.” She says that Corning has a long tradition of nurturing innovation and accommodating eccentricity.
Celtic historian John Matthews tells Steve Paulson that Merlin probably was a real person and that wizards are related to our ancient shamans.
Jay Parini talks with Jim Fleming about the power of poetry and how it especially empowers young people in troubled times.
Lorrie Moore has a new collection of short stories. She tells Steve Paulson that life is filled with absurdity; ghost stories are great fodder for fiction; and North America now owns the short story.
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