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PULP FICTION

Program 07-06-10-A

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	Nelson Algren

Violence, crime, destitution. No so much fun in real life, but in literature they can be divine. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we'll dive into the world of pulp fiction. From the classic noir novel "The Postman Always Rings Twice" to the gritty under-belly of Nelson Algren's Chicago. Also, the ground-breaking graphic novels of Chris Ware. And the wintry paranoia of one of the fastest-growing new genres: Scandinavian Crime Fiction.

SEGMENT 1:

Nelson Algren reads from his book "Chicago, City on the Make." And, Studs Terkel tells Steve Paulson why his friend Nelson Algren is one of America's great literary secrets. Among Terkel's latest books is "Hope Dies Last." Also, Neda Ulaby, NPR reporter and cultural critic, talks with Jim Fleming about the film adaptation of Laurence Sterne's "Tristram Shandy." The movie is called "Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story." And, musician John Wesley Harding (AKA novelist Wesley Stace) tells Jim what the original novel is all about.

SEGMENT 2:

Novelist Tom Wolfe ("The Right Stuff," "Bonfire of the Vanities") reads the opening to James M. Cain's "The Postman Always Rings Twice." Also, Steve Paulson reports on the new genre of Scandinavian crime fiction and we hear a reading from Karin Fossum's "He Who Fears the Wolf." And, graphic novelist Chris Ware talks with Anne Strainchamps about the hard work of making comic books. Ware is the author of "Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth.

SEGMENT 3:

Charles Bukowski reads his poem, "The Poetry Reading." Then, Kristen Asbjornsen speaks with Jim Fleming from her home in Norway and explains how she set Bukowski's poems to music. And we hear the results.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 07-06-10-A.

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Books:

Nelson Algren. “The Man With the Golden Arm” (1949)
Charles Bukowski. “Factotum” (1975)
James Cain. “The Postman Always Rings Twice” (1934)
Laurence Sterne. “The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman” (1759)
Chris Ware. “Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Kid on Earth” (2000)

Music:

• -Man with the Golden Arm by Billy May/ Spies, Thighs & Private Eyes: Crime Scene/ EMI
• -Classical Gas/ California Guitar Trio/ Pathways/ DGM
• -Django Reinhardt's Moon Glow off of Djangology Vol 1: 1934-35 on Naxos Jazz
• -Thinking of Baby by Elmer Bernstein/ Spies, Thighs & Private Eyes: Crime Scene/ EMI
• - All music from the Kristin Asbjornsen interview came from the soundtrack to the film "Factotum."

Distribution dates: week of 05/11/2007 - hour 1 week of 06/10/2007 - hour 1

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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