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Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.
This collection may be the closest we'll ever come to a Dickinson autobiography
by Maureen Corrigan
The Letters of Emily Dickinson collects 1,304 letters, starting with one she wrote at age 11. Her singular voice comes into its own in the letters of the 1860s, which often blur into poems.
Musicians Pay Tribute To Blind Willie Johnson On 'God Don't Never Change'
by Milo Miles
A range of musicians, including Tom Waits and Sinéad O'Connor, cover gospel-blues performer Johnson on a new tribute album. Critic Milo Miles says the record's tracks are striking and inventive.
Jazz Legend Sonny Rollins Revisits Past Performances With 'Holding The Stage'
by Kevin Whitehead
The 85-year-old saxophonist's new album features live recordings made between 1979 and 2012. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead calls Holding The Stage a "mixed bag" with a few "real gems."
Sturgill Simpson Moves Into Uncharted Waters In 'A Sailor's Guide to Earth'
by Ken Tucker
Rock critic Ken Tucker says Simpson deepens his range and reconnects country to R&B on his new record, a concept album about becoming a father.
'Alter Egos' Dissects Hillary Clinton's Tenure As Obama's Secretary Of State
Mark Landler of The New York Times discusses Clinton and Obama's contrasting views on America's role in the world. Clinton, Landler says, was often the hawk, more willing to intervene with force.
'Huntsman' And 'Tale Of Tales' Put A Modern Spin On Classic Fairy Tales
by David Edelstein
Critic David Edelstein reviews The Huntsman: Winter's War, a sequel to the 2012 movie, Snow White and the Huntsman, and Tale of Tales, an adaptation of a group of 17th century Italian folk stories.
Remembering Legendary Musician Prince, A 'Strikingly Original' Icon
by Ken Tucker
Rock critic Ken Tucker says Prince, the singer, songwriter and instrumentalist who died yesterday at his home in Minnesota, was "the most inventive and prolific pop musician of his generation."
Flights Of Fancy: Exploring The Songs And Pathways Of 'The Living Bird'
Wildlife photographer Gerrit Vyn and essayist Scott Weidensaul share bird calls and discuss some of the remarkable abilities of birds. Originally broadcast Oct. 20, 2015.