Books & Literature

Travel writer Pico Iyer (rhymes with 'tire"). Iyer has an article on traveling to Vietnam in the new edition of "Conde Nast Traveler." Iyer's the author of "Video Night In Kathmandu" and the new book, "The Lady and the Monk: Four Seasons in Kyoto".

Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the new collection of writings by African-American author Richard Wright.

The second half of a two-part interview with historian Ann Charters. She's spent 30 years studying the literature of Beat movement writers such as William Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, and Allen Ginsberg. She's the editor of a new compilation called "The Portable Beat Reader" (published by Viking).

The first of a two-part interview with historian Ann Charters. She's spent 30 years studying the literature of Beat movement writers such as William Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, and Allen Ginsberg. She's the editor of a new compilation called "The Portable Beat Reader" (published by Viking). Today, Charters discusses writer William Burroughs, his seminal novel, "Naked Lunch," and its new film adaptation. Tomorrow, Charters talks about her work with Jack Kerouac and the larger significance of the Beat movement.

Writer Patrick McGilligan. He's just written a new biography of film director George Cukor (KOOK-er), "A Double Life, George Cukor: A Biography of the Gentleman Director." (published by St. Martin's Press). Cukor's films included, "Little Women," "GasLight," "The Philadelphia Story," and "Dinner at Eight." This new biography reveals the part of his life that he kept private while he was alive, his homosexuality.

Biographer Robert Lacey. Lacey's new book, "Little Man" is an examination of the life of gangster Meyer Lansky. (It's published by Little, Brown). Lacey and Terry Gross will discuss how the movie's portrayal of gangsters differs from reality.

Journalist Soledad Santiago and her children were homeless fourteen years ago. From there she went on to become a journalist and she headed the press office for New York State Controller Ned Regan. She talks to Terry about her life, about raising children in a dangerous urban environment, and the difficult choices she's had to make. Her new novel is called "Room 9." (Perfect Crime Press).

Book critic John Leonard on "Professors, Politics, and Pop," a new book of essays on campus politics and pop culture by journalist Jon Wiener.

Playwright, lyricist, and novelist Joe Keenan. His new book, "Putting On the Ritz," follows the further misadventures of the Broadway characters he first created in the book "Blue Heaven." (It's published by Viking).

Columnist Cynthia Heimel ("HIGH-mel") tells us what the new year holds for her. Heimel writes about the perils of being a single woman in the 90s for both The Village Voice and Playboy. There's a recent collection of her columns, titled "If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead Yet?" (It's published by Atlantic).

Writer Maxine Hong Kingston shares her thoughts at the end of the year. Her novel, "Tripmaster Monkey," was a huge critical success in 1989. This year, Kingston lost the only copy of the manuscript for her new novel when her house in Oakland, California burned down earlier this year.

Financial writer Jane Bryant Quinn discusses what the new lower interest rates mean to the economy, and the average consumer. Quinn's finance columns appear in "Newsweek," and "Woman's Day," and she's written a new guide to personal finance, "Making the Most of Your Money: Smart Ways to Create Wealth and Plan Your Finances in the '90s." (published by Simon & Schuster.)

Book critic John Leonard reviews "The Devil's Candy," Wall Street Journal reporter Julie Salamon's account of the making of the movie, "The Bonfire of The Vanities."

Maureen Corrigan considers the New York City subway system. She reviews Jim Dwyer's new book, "Subway Lives," and she discusses an exhibit of Walker Evans subway photographs from the 1930s and 40s. It's now at the National Gallery in Washington.

Why does cross-dressing stir up so much anxiety in our culture? Harvard professor Marjorie Garber talks about where cross dressing has turned up in popular culture, and what it means to wear the clothes of the opposite sex. Garber's new book on the subject is "Vested Interests: Cross-Dressing and Cultural Anxiety." (It's published by Routledge).

Until the mid 1870s, most of Africa remained untouched by slave traders and explorers. And then, in a little over three decades of conquest, Western European countries carved up and colonized all of Africa. Thomas Pakenham ("packin-em") has written "The Scramble for Africa" (Random House), a comprehensive account of this period where the white man invaded the Dark Continent.

Financial reporter John Rothchild. Rothchild's new book, "Going For Broke," is the story of Canadian financier Robert Campeau ("camp-o" with a long "o"). In the space of a few years, Campeau became one of the most powerful retailers in the world, having bought Brooks Brothers, Ann Taylor, Bonwit Teller, Jordan Marsh, Bloomingdales, and Filene's. He acquired his empire with seven billion dollars in loans and junk bonds, and when his empire collapsed, 50,000 creditors were after him and 8,000 workers lost their jobs.

Elvis Costello's former bass player, Bruce Thomas. He was with Elvis Costello and the Attractions, from 1977-1987. Thomas has just written a journalistic book about touring with a band based on his own experiences, "The Big Wheel: Rock & Roll and Roadside Attractions." (published by Faber & Faber).

We remember trumpeter Buck Clayton, who died on Sunday at age 80. Clayton played with Count Baise's original band. (Rebroadcast of 10/14/1987)