Letters to Poets
The Academy of American Poets asked Randall Mann, Marilyn Hacker, D. Nurkse, Matt Rasmussen, Patricia Smith, and Brenda Hillman to talk about the most important letters they've received.
A curated selection of videos, including book trailers, brief interviews, and other literary curiosities updated daily.
As I Lay Dying
Directed by James Franco, who also stars as Darl Bundren, As I Lay Dying will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival later this month. Based on the 1930 classic by William Faulkner, As I Lay Dying, which was filmed in Canton Mississippi, is the story of the death of Addie Bundren and her family's quest to honor her wish to be buried in the nearby town of Jefferson.
Great (and Not So Great) Gatsby Covers
First published in 1925, The Great Gatsby has been reprinted in many different editions and in many different formats. Richard from AbeBooks.com counts down thirty of the covers used to illustrate the novel over the past eighty-eight years.
This Is Water
David Foster Wallace gave the commencement address to the 2005 graduating class of Kenyon College, a speech that became widely known only after the author's death. In this video, which features an abridged version of the orginal audio recording of the speech, The Glossary puts into motion the late author's invaluable life advice, which culminates in a simple, elegant explanation of the real value of education.
Truth Underground
"Poetry gave me something that school didn't" says CJ Suitt, one of three subjects in this documentary, directed by Garret Warner, that follows spoken word poets from North Carolina. In front of live audiences they search for what is personal and universal, what Maya Angelou called "a brave and startling truth."
Red Moon
Because today is the official publication date of Benjamin Percy's new novel, Red Moon—and because we could all use further proof that that is indeed the author's real voice—here is an interview with Percy about his epic and terrifying thriller set in the American West.
Frank X Walker
Governor Steve Beshear last month appointed Frank X Walker to serve as Kentucky's poet laureate. Walker, who will promote the arts and lead the state in literary endeavors through readings and public presentations at meetings, seminars, conferences and events, including Kentucky Writers' Day, was formally inducted at a public ceremony and reception on April 24 in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort.
Kushner, Kunzru, and Galchen
Authors Rachel Kushner, Hari Kunzru, and Rivka Galchen speak with poet and Bomb Magazine senior editor Mónica de la Torre about their writing and the state of the literary world at New York City's Strand Book Store.
Langston Ward
A senior at Mead High School in Spokane, Washington, Langston Ward won the title of 2013 Poetry Out Loud National Champion at the National Finals held in Washington, D.C., on April 30. He received twenty thousand dollars; his high school received five hundred dollars for the purchase of poetry books. In this video, Ward recites "A March in the Ranks Hard-Prest, and the Road Unknown" by Walt Whitman.
Short Stories
May is Short Story Month, and in this video from Open Road Media, acclaimed short story writers such as James Jones, Susan Minot, Peter Cameron, David Corbett, Nicola Barker, Bradford Morrow, and Robert McCammon discuss the joys and challenges of the short form.