Olivia Laing says John Cheever's "The Swimmer" is one of the finest short stories every written.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Humorist Roy Blount Junior talks about some of his favorite rambles in New Orleans, with observations on oysters, New Orleans characters and the city’s history.
Simon Montefiore is the author of “Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar.” He says Stalin was more complex than we thought, but still a monster.
Journalist and editor Tom Shroder tells Jim Fleming about the remarkable cases he's investigated of children who insist they belong to a family other than the one they were born into.
In the run-up to this show, many of you sent in your stories of wonder. Here they are, crafted into an eight-part soundscape with the voices of Michael Arnold, Cynthia Woodland, Caryl Owen, and Peter Sobol. Thanks for sharing your stories!
Stephen Marche is the author of "How Shakespeare Changed Everything." He tells Anne Strainchamps why he thinks Shakespeare is the most important figure in history.
Sandra Luckow is a ventriloquist herself, who tells him Fleming about her relationship with her "carved figure" Juanito.
Tamora Pierce tells Anne Strainchamps why she has devoted her career to creating strong female characters who challenge and exceed their societies' expectations of them.
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