Places & Travel

Nugent has written an account of his trip to India and the Himalayas in search of one of the world's rarest birds.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead has the first of a two part review of several current saxophone quartets, a configuration that's risen in popularity lately.

Samir al-Khalil is the pen name of Kanan Makiya. His book "Republic of Fear" became a best-seller during the Gulf War. Now he has a new book about how the regime of Saddam Hussain used public monuments as another tool to keep in power. The book's called "The Monument: Art, Vulgarity, and Responsibility in Iraq."

Mapfumo is known as "The Lion of Zimbabwe," for his outspoken political stance during his home country's struggle for independence. Mapfumo and his band, The Blacks Unlimited, have a new album, called "Chamunorwa."

Writer P. F. Kluge. He was a Peace Corp volunteer in Micronesia, a group of 2000 islands in the Pacific. He's written a book, "Edge of Paradise," contrasting the exotic quality of this "lost paradise" with the worst aspects of American culture that the Micronesians seem to be drawn to.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews Sylvester Stallone's new movie "Oscar," a 1930s gangster comedy that feels like a 1960s French stage play. Schiff says it lacks the over-the-top approach needed to make farce succeed.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "The Original All-American Sousa," a collection of marches by John Philip Sousa that includes both new recordings and rare clips of Sousa himself from 70 years ago.

Kinzer has been covering events in Nicaragua since 1977, from revolution to economic collapse, and has lived in the country since 1980. His book about Nicaragua is, "Brothers & Blood."

Journalist Robin Wright of the L.A. Times talks with guest host Frank Browning about the reconstruction of post-Gulf War Iraq and autonomy for the Kurds. Wright has written several books about the Middle-East.

Book critic John Leonard reviews Alberto Manguel's novel, "News From a Foreign Country Came," about families and terrorism in cities around the world.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "A Morning for Flamingos," David Lee Burke's fourth novel in a series about a Cajun detective in New Orleans.

World music critic Milo Miles profiles Ray Lema. He's a singer, songwriter, and bandleader from Zaire.

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.

Stephen Schiff reviews the new movie about British rule in Nigeria.

Book critic John Leonard reviews the new collection of essays by veteran Polish journalist Ryszard Kapuscinski, called The Soccer Game.

The Polish documentarian chronicled the fall of Communism and rise of democracy in Poland, an activity that caused him repeated trouble with the Polish authorities.

Television critic David Bianculli takes a break from talking about his current favorite show to review the season premiere of "Northern Exposure."

Film critic Owen Gleiberman reviews the recent video release of "The Last Picture Show," which was first released at the beginning of a new renaissance in American filmmaking. He describes it as Peyton Place directed by Ingmar Bergman.

We speak with two reporters about the aftermath of the Gulf War:

Journalist James O'Shea is former chief economic correspondent for The Chicago Tribune. His book, "The Daisy Chain," is a case history of what went wrong with the Savings and Loans in this country. It looks at an S&L in Vernon, Texas owned by Don Dixon who was recently sentenced for defrauding regulators, illegally spending depositors' money, and other misdeeds.