Last year, Wofford won an upset victory, becoming the first Democratic U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania since 1962. He was a key aide to President John F. Kennedy, helped establish the Peace Corps, and aided Martin Luther King, Jr. He also chaired the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee from 1987 to 1991. A new edition of Wofford's 1980 book, "Of Kennedy's & Kings: Making sense of the Sixties" has just been published.
The Irish writer and director has made the films "Mona Lisa," "The Company of Wolves," and "The Miracle." His new film is "The Crying Game," a love story starring Stephen Rea as an Irish Republican Army gunman with a false identity hiding in London's underworld.
This week, Nick at Nite and TBS present telecasts of three-decade old TV flops that aired only once. One of them later became "The Dick van Dyke Show." Critic David Bianculli has a review.
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "X," the opera by composer Anthony Davis, about the life and times of Malcom X. It's just came out on CD. The opera is Wagnerian in scale and style, but it also has allusions to the music of Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Fats Waller, Cab Calloway, and John Coltrane, and others.
Composer Anthony Davis's opera "X" based on the life of Malcolm X, and has just come out on CD. It premiered in 1986. Terry talks with David about what Malcolm X meant to him and why he decided to compose an opera on his life. Davis has received international recognition for his compositions as well as his performances as a solo pianist and the leader of the ensemble Episteme.
Early is director of Afro-American Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. He'll talk with Terry about why he used to like Malcolm X, and why he no longer does. His article. "Their Malcolm, My Problem," appears in December's issue of Harper's Magazine.
Book critic John Leonard reviews the new literary biography by Carol Brightman, which weaves together an exhaustive amount of material collected up to the day of McCarthy's death.
Anthropologist and documentary filmmaker David Feingold talks about the Peruvian Shining Path guerrillas, their connection to the drug trade, and their impact on the elections in Peru. His new film, "Washington/Peru: We Ain't Winning," is about U.S. efforts to stop the drug flow from Peru.
Patrons was among the 30,000 Argentines who disappeared during military rule in the mid 70s. She was imprisoned for almost three years, released in 1979, and forced to leave the country. While in prison, her poetry was smuggled out by human rights groups. The U.S. granted Partnoy refugee status. She is the author of 'The Little School," and edited "You Can't Drown The Fire," an anthology of exiled Latin American women's writings. Her new collection is "Revenge of the Apple."
Anastasia is a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer. His beat is the Mafia; most recently he's been covering the Robert Simone trial where the prosecution rested its case today. Simone was attorney for Philadelphia mob boss Nicky Scarfo and has been accused of crime activity, attempted extortion and participating in discussions of murder. Simone was turned in by a government informant.
Commentator Maureen Corrigan reviews "Free Speech for Me--But Not for Thee," by Nat Hentoff. The iconoclastic writer gives his opinions on various free speech issues -- many of which he reported on as a journalist.
Barker is known for his violent, macabre stories, novels, and films -- including his well-known "Hellraiser" trilogy. His newest book "The Thief of Always: A Fable," is aimed at children.
Dove is a Pulitzer Prize winning poet; her collections include, ''Grace Notes," "Thomas and Buela," and "Museum," among others. Her first novel, "Through the Ivory Gate," is about a woman who returns to her hometown, only to unleash a flood of memories.
Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews Spike Lee's new movie, starring Denzel Washington. Schiff praises the film for how it gives each phase in X's life equal weight.
Preston is quickly emerging as a voice for gay writing; his work is being archived in many universities for new gay and lesbian studies departments. He has edited many anthologies including "Hometowns" and "Safe Sex." He is a former editor of "The Advocate," and occasionally writes for "Harper's" and "Interview." Preston also writes and defends gay pornography. He recently finished editing "A member of the Family: Gay Men Write About Their Families."
In addition to his literary work, Tharoor also works at the United Nations, and is currently heading up the U.N. peacekeeping forces in the former Yugoslavia. His newest novel, "Show Business" is about the Indian film industry.
World music critic Milo Miles reviews "Mambo" by Remmy Ongala, which features polyrhythmic folk sounds and smart lyrics about the social issues affecting his home country of Tanzania.
Caine has made over 70 films, from Alfie to Sleuth to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels to Hannah and Her Sisters. He has a new autobiography called "What's It All About?," and will be appearing in the upcoming Muppet's Christmas movie.
