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Writer Gioconda Belli on Joining the Saninistas

Belli's first novel, "The Inhabited Woman," is about a young architect whose body becomes inhabited by the soul of an Indian woman from the time of the Conquistadors. The soul urges the young woman to abandon her privileged lifestyle and join an underground movement against the dictatorship. Belli is from an affluent Nicaraguan family. She studied English and advertising abroad before returning to Nicaragua and joining the Sandinistas and playing a role in the overthrow of Nicaragua's dictator Somoza. Her book of poetry, "Line of Fire" won the Casa de las Americas Prize for poetry in 1979. "The Inhabited Woman" has been published in the US. Latin America, and Europe.

22:29
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Other segments from the episode on July 21, 1994

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, July 21, 1994: Interview with Gioconda Belli; Interview with Frank Langella; Review of the film "The Client."
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15:57

Frank Langella on the "Simple Humanity" and Enduring Challenges of Acting

Langella is the star of the new HBO Showcase film "Doomsday Gun," the true story of Dr. Gerald Bull, a brilliant arms designer who fulfills his lifelong dream of building a supergun. Langella also played Dracula in the Broadway revival of "Dracula" for which he received a Tony nomination, as well as in the 1979 film version of "Dracula." Most recently, he has appeared in the Broadway play "Booth," and in the movie "Dave," as Bob Alexander, the evil White House Chief of Staff.

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08:43

The Voice of Radio Sandino.

Nicaraguan poet Daisy Zamora. She was born into a well-to-do, upper-middle class family. When she was four her father was arrested for his part in an attempted coup against the dictator Somoza. Later in adult life Zamora was part of the Sandinista Revolution. After going into exile in Honduras and Costa Rica, Zamora was announcer for the clandestine Radio Sandino. She'll talk with Terry about her work with the voice of the revolution. Zamora now teaches at the Universidad Centroamericana in Managua, Nicaragua.

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