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(Re)defining Orphans

Book critic John Leonard says the memoir section of Eileen Simpson's new hybrid book, about her own experiences as an orphan, is compelling and insightful; her later meditations on the idea of orphanhood are less successful.

03:57
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Other segments from the episode on June 23, 1987

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, June 23, 1987: Interview with Frank Deford; Commentary on Wynonie Harris; Interview with Ornette Coleman; Review of Eilleen Simpson's book "Orphans: Real and Imaginary."
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27:07

Covering the Drama of Sports

Sportswriter Frank Deford has a new collection of his work for Sport Illustrated called The World's Tallest Midget. He says writing long form pieces has helped sustain his career; he'd falter under the pressure of a daily deadline.

Interview
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06:16

Mr. Blues is Coming to Town

Rock historian Ed Ward remembers the brash and powerful blues "shouter" Wynonie Harris, whose raucous songs had a strong influence on early rock and roll.

Commentary

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07:40

'Perfect Little World' Imagines Family Drama Inside A Utopian Compound

Utopian communities don't fare much better in fiction than they do in real life. As the plot usually unfolds, a brave new world loses its luster fast when the failings of its founder are exposed, or when the community itself begins to morph into a cult. Think of Lauren Groff's Arcadia or Carolyn Parkhurst's Harmony, two recent novels that have imagined alternative communities and their inevitable crack-up.

Review

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