Zora Neale Hurston: a heart with rooom for every joy
"I have the strength to walk my own path, no matter how hard, in my search for reality, and not cling to the splendid wagon of desperate illusions." A writer of novels, short stories, folktales, plays, and essays, Zora Neale Hurston combined a hunge...
Great American authors since 1650: 1926-1939
This was the most turbulent period in American history. It encompassed the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression. It gave rise to America's greatest writers, known collectively as the lost generation. Presented by Jane Kaczmarek, this eight part...
Great American authors since 1650: 1907-1925
During this time frame America lost its innocence. Its writers now began to struggle with the problems that accompanied modernization and industrialization. It was also the beginning of the lost generation of American authors. Presented by Jane Kacz...
Great American authors since 1650: 1650-1845
The awe-inspiring saga of America's greatest authors comes alive in Great American Authors since 1650. As the American colonies moved toward becoming an independent nation, a unique and distinctive voice poured forth from the pens of its authors. On...
Great American authors since 1650: 1940-1949
America entered the technological age through the darkness of WWII and its aftermath. American authors were now becoming legends in their own time through mass media and popular culture. Their response was as diverse as the nation's response to livi...
Great American authors since 1650: 1846-1855
Between the War of 1812 and the Mexican American War that ended in 1848, America experienced an exuberant economic period of growth. And it was during this time that American authors produced the nation's first great wave of classic literature. In t...
Great American authors since 1650: 1856-1906
After the Civil War the modern American novel took shape ... It was led by Louisa May Alcott, Mark Twain and Henry James. It was also the time that the American literary voice came from everyone and from everywhere. Presented by Jane Kaczmarek, this...
The day we learned to think: the evolution of language and cognition
Was there a "big bang" in human language and cognitive development, or did speech and abstract thought evolve slowly - perhaps across 200,000 years or so? Surveying prehistoric burial sites and other archaeological finds, including what might be the...
Beginning with bonjour: hello and what follows
This program covers how to greet friends, introduce oneself to strangers, talk about where one comes from, and tell what one does for a living. Settings include an exhibition of rare books, a yacht race, an opera festival, a youth orchestra performa...
Traveling in France: booking passage, booking rooms
In France, traveling by public transportation is a popular way to see the sights. This program introduces questions and answers related to buying train and boat tickets and arranging for lodgings. Settings include a harbor near the famous Chateau d'...