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Writing Other Voices

Clarence Major is an experimental, African American writer. His latest novel, Painted Turtle: Women with Guitar -- along with his last book, Such Was the Season -- uses more conventional narrative techniques. He joins Fresh Air to discuss language and storytelling in the black community.

09:38
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Other segments from the episode on September 7, 1988

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, September 7, 1988: Interview with Paul Schrader; Review of the home video release of "The Ford 50th Anniversary"; Interview with Clarence Major; Commentary on Italian…
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27:22

Screenwriter Paul Schrader

Part 1 of Terry Gross's interview. Schrader's newest movie is Patty Hearst, about the magazine heiress's kidnapping by the Symbionese Liberation Army. He recently collaborated with Martin Scorsese on the film The Last Temptation of Christ.

Interview
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06:51

Revisiting the First Television Spectacular

As a child, classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz was delighted by the live broadcast of the Ford 50th Anniversary Show, which featured a lively--and unprecedented--duet between Mary Martin and Ethel Merman. The program has recently been released on video.

Review
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03:29

Learning Italian at the Movies

Language commentator recalls how he learned Italian by watching dubbed American movies while studying abroad, and considers why Italian filmgoers prefer dubbing over subtitles.

Commentary

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Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

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03:37

Clarence Major's Most Conventional Work Yet

The African American writer is known for his experimental style, but in Such Was the Season, Major uses a straightforward narrative to tell the story about an older black woman in Atlanta and her doctor nephew. Guest critic Stuart Klawans says any bookstore that doesn't carry it needs to "wise up."

Review
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10:23

Mystery Writer Walter Mosley.

Writer Walter Mosley. His first book, "Devil In A Blue Dress," is a hard boiled detective story starring a black gumshoe up against white prejudice. It's published by Norton.

Interview

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