Fresh Air producer Amy Salit talks with Indian writer Gita Mehta. Mehta wrote the best-selling novel, "Raj," which has just been released in paperback.
Faith Sale of PEN, the international writers group, and Christine Serfaty, whose husband is the Moroccan writer, Abraham Serfaty. He's been in jail for 17 years because of his writing. PEN just gave Serfaty its "Freedom to Write" award to call attention to his plight.
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews two recent recordings of American composer Elliott Carter's works. Now in his 80s, Carter is still composing, and shows no sign of slowing down.
Book critic John Leonard reviews Sarah Maitland's new novel, which masterfully weaves together real dragons, the end of childhood, cancer, and Christian symbolism in a narrative that somehow leads to salvation.
Michael Jackson (No, not THAT Michael Jackson). He's a beer expert who's written the "Pocket Guide to Beer (The Connoisseur's companion to over 1000 Beers of the World)," by Simon & Schuster. He lives in England and has also written "The New World Guide to Beer.
Vietnamesse-American Pham Thanh and American filmmaker Elizabeth Farnsworth. As a child, Thanh was seriously injured when the Americans bombed his village. He eventually was brought to America and raised by foster parents. Farnsworth has made a documentary about Thanh's life, and the legacy of the Vietnam war on that country's children. It's called "Thanh's War," and it's being shown this week on PBS.
Television critic David Bianculli reviews "The 90s," public television's weekly, quirky, sprawling and enjoyable show featuring bizarre news stories, essays, and occasional music performances.
Terry talks with ethnomusicologist Steven Feld. His new record, "Voices of the Rainforest," captures the songs of the Kaluli people of Paupa New Guinea. Feld also works for preservation of the world's rain forests, since if the forests are eliminated, so will much indigenous music.
McCorkle is a favorite of Fresh Air, and Terry thought it's been too long since she's been on the show. Today, McCorkle is joined by pianist Ben Aronov and bassist John Goldsby.
Book critic Maureen Corrigan review Kitty Kelley's salacious Nancy Reagan: The Unauthorized Biography. Corrigan, who is no fan of the former first lady, says it's perversely entertaining.
We discuss free speech on college campuses with ACLU counsel Ed Chen, Nat Hentoff, University of Wisconsin legal counsel Pat Hodulik, and Brown University President Vartan Gregorian.
Parker has been singing and writing songs for 15 years. He is known for his angry, biting lyrics. He's just produced his 14th album, "Struck by Lightning," which reveals Parker's new, mature perspective on life.
British actress Joan Plowright. She's one of her nation's leading actresses, having appeared on the London stage since the mid 50s. She's also been on Broadway, had numerous role on British television, and appeared in the films "The Dressmaker," "I Love You To Death," and "Avalon." She was also married to the late actor Sir Lawrence Oliver.
Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "Mary Diana Dods: A Gentleman and a Scholar" by Betty T. Bennett. Dods was a Victorian writer who advanced her literary career by posing as men named David Lyndsay and Walter Sholto Douglas.
Krauss is still a teenager, but she's already a veteran in the bluegrass scene, with three albums and a decade on the road to her credit. Her new album is called "I've Got That Old Feeling," on Rounder Records.
Barney Rosset published such controversial works as "Tropic of Cancer" and "Last Exit to Brooklyn," as well as Victorian literature considered by some to be pornographic Several years ago he was forced out of Grove and started his own publishing house, Blue Moon.
