TALES FROM BOOKWORLD

Program 03-07-20-B

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To The Best of Our Knowledge
from Wisconsin Public Radio

	Reading a good book may be the most fun you can have sitting down. Books can be a hobby or a passion, an interest or an obsession. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, tales from book world. A former bookseller takes us to Hay on Wye - the Welsh town that's well on its way to becoming the book capitol of the world. Anna Quindlen talks about the difference between writing novels and newspaper columns. We'll meet Thursday Next, a literary detective. And we'll track the twentieth century's greatest literary forger.

WEB EXTRA Jim Fleming's interview with Anna Quindlen -- Complete & Unedited (listen using RealPlayer)

SEGMENT 1:

Paul Collins describes his experience as an antiquarian bookseller in the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye in his book "Sixpence House." He tells Jim Fleming he especially loves searching out antique magazines and newspapers and reads an example from an 1878 issue of "Popular Science." Also, Jasper Fforde talks with Steve Paulson about the adventures of his fictional character Thursday Next, a literary detective. Thursday's starred in two books, "The Eyre Affair" and "Lost in a Good Book."

SEGMENT 2:

Simon Worrall tells Anne Strainchamps about Mark Hoffman, possibly the greatest literary forger of all time. Hoffman meticulously researches his forgeries and possesses unique skill at manipulating the forger's tools and techniques. Hoffman's in jail, but some of his forgeries are still circulating on the open market. Worrall's book is "The Poet and the Murderer." Also, Jim Fleming talks with Anna Quindlen about writing newspaper columns and writing novels. Quindlen believes both forms deserve respect. Her latest novel is "Blessings."

SEGMENT 3:

Julia Glass won the National Book Award for her debut novel, "Three Junes." She tells Steve Paulson that writing the book was her way of dealing with unendurable emotional trauma; recalls the National Book Awards dinner; and pays homage to late bloomers everywhere.

Cassette copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 03-07-20-B.

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Books:

• Paul Collins, Sixpence House: Lost in a Town of Books (Bloomsbury)
• Jasper Fforde, Lost in a Good Book (Viking)
• Julia Glass, Three Junes: a novel (Anchor Books)
• Anna Quindlen, Blessings: a novel (Random House)
• Simon Worrall, The Poet and the Murderer (Plume)

Music:

• Button after Collins: “Smith’s Hornpipe” from Harp Music of Wales
  Robin Huw Bowen, SAYDISC CDSDL 412
  Saydisc Records, Chipping Manor, The Chipping, Wotton-under-Edge,
  Glos. GL12 7AD England
• Button/Option after Fforde: “Funky C, Funky Do” from Caledon Wood
  Al Petteway Maggie’s Music MMCD 217
  Maggie’s Music, P.O. Box 4144, Annapolis, MD 21403
• Button after Worrall: “Branches” Al Petteway, same disc as above
• Button/Option after Quindlen: “The Lambs’ Fold Vale” Robin Huw
  Bowen, same disc as above
• Alternative Close Music: “Fy to the Hills in the Morning” Al Petteway, same disc as above

Distribution dates:

week of 08/01/2004 - hour 2 week of 07/20/2003 - hour 2

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

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