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Washington Black

Author Interviews

Novelist Esi Edugyan On Depicting The 'Forgotten Figures' Of Scientific History

Fresh Air

Edugyan's latest novel, Washington Black, tells the story of a boy who escapes slavery and embarks on a voyage of scientific discovery. It has been shortlisted for the 2018 Man Booker Prize.

Novelist Esi Edugyan On Depicting The 'Forgotten Figures' Of Scientific History

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Phoebe Robinson: There's No Excuse For The Lack Of Diversity In Comedy

Phoebe Robinson hosts the podcast 2 Dope Queens. Plume hide caption

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Plume

Television

Phoebe Robinson: There's No Excuse For The Lack Of Diversity In Comedy

Fresh Air

"There are so many talented, amazing people and if you're not booking them, it's either out of laziness or the fact you really don't care," says the co-host of the 2 Dope Queens podcast.

Phoebe Robinson: There's No Excuse For The Lack Of Diversity In Comedy

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'Washington Black' Is A Soaring Tale Of Enslavement And Escape
NPR

Review

Book Reviews

'Washington Black' Is A Soaring Tale Of Enslavement And Escape

Fresh Air

Esi Edugyan's new novel centers on a boy who escapes slavery via hot air balloon — before crashing down to hard historical realities. Critic Maureen Corrigan calls Washington Black "a wonder."

'Washington Black' Is A Soaring Tale Of Enslavement And Escape

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The 'Young Black Man' Who Reluctantly Became An NRA-Certified Instructor

Firearms are exhibited at the annual NRA convention in Dallas this past May. RJ Young's book Let It Bang examines the NRA's relationship with race through his personal, unexpected interest in guns. Loren Elliott/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Loren Elliott/AFP/Getty Images

Author Interviews

The 'Young Black Man' Who Reluctantly Became An NRA-Certified Instructor

RJ Young developed an interest in guns in order to bond with his white father-in-law. The experience is chronicled is his new book, Let It Bang.

The 'Young Black Man' Who Reluctantly Became An NRA-Certified Instructor

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Author Interviews

'Unsheltered' Tackles The Unhealed Divisions In America

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Barbara Kingsolver about her novel "Unsheltered," where a dilapidated Victorian house, family fortunes in decline and the pressures of middle age all converge.

'Unsheltered' Tackles The Unhealed Divisions In America

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The Ravenmaster

Author Interviews

'The Ravenmaster' Is Definitely (There) For The Birds

Legend says that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, England will fall. Luckily, ravenmaster Chris Skaife is there to care for them, and he's got a new book about these extraordinary birds.

'The Ravenmaster' Is Definitely (There) For The Birds

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Author Interviews

'Heavy': Kiese Laymon's Memoir Examines How People Absorb Trauma

NPR's Scott Simon talks to Kiese Laymon about his relationship with his mother as well as his addiction to food and gambling. Both are documented in his new book, "Heavy: An American Memoir."

'Heavy': Kiese Laymon's Memoir Examines How People Absorb Trauma

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Mystery Of A Massive Library Fire Remains Unsolved After More Than 30 Years

Smoke engulfs the Los Angeles Public Library on April 29, 1986. Susan Orlean tells the story of the fire in The Library Book. Ben Martin/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images hide caption

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Ben Martin/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

Author Interviews

Mystery Of A Massive Library Fire Remains Unsolved After More Than 30 Years

On April 29, 1986, fire tore through Los Angeles' Central Library — more than one million books were damaged or destroyed. Susan Orlean tells the story of the suspected arson in The Library Book.

Mystery Of A Massive Library Fire Remains Unsolved After More Than 30 Years

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