A Five Part Series from TTBOOK!

Public Radio International

Wisconsin Public Radio

RECLAIMING THE CLASSICS

Program 07-11-18-B

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"Beowulf" is the oldest story in the English language, but for centuries no one knew it existed. The manuscript was buried in an ancient monastery, written in a language no one understood. Even after it was discovered few scholars read it as serious literature, but that all changed with J.R.R. Tolkein, who loved it and worked its ideas into "The Lord of the Rings." Now it's inspired dozens of new translations and even big budget movies. We'll tell you the hidden history of "Beowulf" in this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge.

SEGMENT 1:

Dick Ringler taught "Beowulf" for decades at the University of Wisconsin, and has just put out a new translation from the old English. He reads a bit of it and talks about the poem with Jim Fleming. Ringler tells Jim the classic story of the poem and dismisses the two new movie versions because they don't stick to the original story. Also, Michael Dirda is a Pulitzer Prize winning critic at the Washington Post. His latest book is "Classics for Pleasure." He tells Anne Strainchamps that modern readers of Beowulf owe a great deal to J.R.R. Tolkien.

SEGMENT 2:

Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky are the celebrated husband and wife team who've translated many of the great Russian writers. They've just come out with a new version of Tolstoy's "War and Peace." They tell Steve Paulson that their translation tries to capture in English exactly what Tolstoy was doing in Russian.

SEGMENT 3:

Robin Swicord wrote and directed "The Jane Austen Book Club." She talks with Anne Strainchamps. Ane we hear a clip from the film. Also, Anne speaks with Claire Tomalin, Austen's biographer. They talk about Jane Austen and the contemporary fascination with her.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 07-11-18-b.

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Books:

Michael Dirda, Classics for Pleasure (Harcourt)
Dick Ringler, Beowulf : A New Translation for Oral Delivery (Hackett)
Dick Ringler, Norman Gilliland, Beowulf: The Complete Story - A Drama (Nemo Productions) (www.sandmansions.com)
Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace (Pevear/Volokhonsky Translation) (Knopf)

Music:

• Jill Tracy, Evil Night Together - from "Songs Inspired by Literature" (Artists for Literacy)
• Bob Hillman, Tolstoy - from "Songs Inspired by Literature" (Artists for Literacy)
• Suzanne Vega, Calypso - from "Songs Inspired by Literature" (Artists for Literacy)
• Evgeny Kissin w/ Beethoven’s “Rage Over a Lost Penny” On Bach-Busoni-Chaconne,Schumann-Beethoven – Rondos (RCA Victor)
  
• John Field, Nocturn #12 in G; John O'Conor, piano (Telarc)
  

Distribution dates: week of 11/18/2007 - hour 2

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

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