How precocious was Willa Cather? Well, editor of a national magazine at age 22, but her letters tell the story best. Listen as Brette Olpin reads from Cather’s early correspondence and judge for yourself. Editorial work and commentary by Alex
A Voice for the Voiceless – Poems, Songs and Scenes of Bertolt Brecht – 2019
“Years ago when I was studying the ways of the Chicago Wheat Exchange I suddenly grasped how they managed the whole world’s wheat from there and yet I did not grasp it either. I knew at once: you’ve run into
Shakespeare’s sonnets for Valentine’s Day – 2019
How quickly a year does pass … here for Valentine’s Day 2019 are twenty more of Shakespeare’s sonnets. Readers (in order of appearance) are David Simmons, Nick Barovic Hancock and Alex Hancock.
The strange and contentious life of Simone Weil
What are we to make of the life and writings of Simone Weil? Born in Paris in 1909 to an acculturated Jewish family, her older brother a mathematical prodigy and genius, she graduated from the École Normale Supérieure first in
Shakespeare’s Richard III – Act 4 Scene 4 “Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes”
Shakespeare’s Richard III was his breakthrough work and established him as the leading dramatist in London. His Richard may not be the Richard of history, but it suited the Tudor politics of the day and gave the groundlings enough blood
Poems from Jeanie and Steve Tomasko
Steve Tomasko doesn’t fish as much, walk in the woods enough, or write as often as he should. At some point, Steve’s background in biology collided (hybridized?) with his long-time love of words, which is why nature and
Poems – Andrea Potos
Andrea Potos is the author of eight poetry collections, including A Stone to Carry Home (Salmon Poetry), Arrows of Light (Iris Press), An Ink Like Early Twilight (Salmon Poetry), We Lit the Lamps Ourselves (Salmon Poetry) and Yaya’s Cloth (Iris
Singing in the Dark Times – The Many Trials of Bertolt Brecht – 2018
Fermat’s Last Theater Company Presents Singing in the Dark Times – The Many Trials of Bertolt Brecht Cast Brecht Isabel Karp Ensemble members Greer Dubois & Maggie Schenk Musicians: Violin Diana Wheeler Cello Greer Dubois Flute Maggie Schenk
What to the American Slave is Your Fourth of July – Frederick Douglass, 1852
In 1852 the Rochester, NY Ladies Anti-Slavery Society asked Frederick Douglass to deliver their annual Fourth of July Oration. The speech he gave ran to more than 2500 words and is a work of scorching irony and one of the
Writing the Truth – Five Difficulties Bertolt Brecht, 1935
Nowadays, anyone who wishes to combat lies and ignorance and to write the truth must overcome at least five difficulties. He must have the courage to write the truth when truth is everywhere opposed; the keenness to recognize it, although