Literary Figures

Egyptian-American writer Gregory Djanikian reads a poem called "Renovations," about his coming to grips with chaos.

Mexican-American writer Sandra Cisnero is credited as the first Chicana author to publish a book about Chicana women. She joins Fresh Air to read from a new story, called "La Fabulosa."

Commentator Maureen Corrigan talks about her admiration of Erich Auerbach, Leon Trotsky, and Fernand Braudel, writers who were somehow able to write expansive, well-researched books while in prison or exile -- without notes or access to other texts and documents.

Critic Maureen Corrigan pays tribute to horror writer H. P. Lovecraft, who she says in the true inheritor of Edgar Allen Poe.

Book critic John Leonard considers the vital role book translators have on literature on the occasion of the death of translator Ralph Manheim.

Readings from the PEN American Center's benefit for Bosnian Writers, "An Evening For Sarajevo", held last night in New York City. Fifteen American writers read from their work to raise money for the writers of Sarajevo for food and supplies; writers in the besieged city are fighting to keep their literary culture vital and undiminished in a time of war.

Commentator Dagoberto Gilb talks about his brush with literary celebrity during his recent book tour.

Segment of a reading by playwright and actor Sam Shepard. It took place at the 92nd Street Y Unterberg Poetry Center in New York on October 6, 1994. Shepard has a new short story collection called "Cruising Paradise."

Book critic Maureen Corrigan has an appreciation of writer Eudora Welty who died earlier this week, and a review of Zigzagging Down a Wild Trail by Bobbie Ann Mason

For today's entire show we excerpt portions of The New Yorker magazines benefit program Beyond Words in which New Yorker writers read the work of others on-stage. (Taped Thursday, Oct. 11 at Town Hall in New York City). Beyond Words benefits The September 11th Fund. David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker introduces the readings.