Places & Travel

Linguist Geoff Nunberg foregoes his usual language commentaries to tell us a tale about being young and limber in Rome.

Film critic Stephen Schiff and book critic John Leonard look back at the movies and books of 1990. They give us their favorites from the year, and consider trends and highlights in popular culture.

The photographer is known for both her freelance work and portraits of famous and ordinary people in her home city. Aperture Press has recently released a new book of her photos.

Journalist Lawrence Weschler is a staff writer for the New Yorker and has been covering Eastern Europe for the past decade. He joins Fresh Air to talk about labor leader Lech Walesa's successful democratic election, and the fallout of Poland's changing government and economy.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the new book by Elijah Anderson, which features interviews with city dwellers. The sociological text reveals much about crime and and racism in urban areas.

Pollack faced difficulty filming his new movie, in light of the antagonistic relationship between the United States and Cuba. His other films include Tootsie and the Oscar winning Out of Africa.

Book critic John Leonard reviews the African American writer's new novel, set against the events surrounding the 1985 burning of the MOVE house in West Philadelphia by the Philadelphia police.

Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews poet Robert Bly's new book Iron John, which explores what he sees as a crisis of masculinity affecting men today. She says it's a fascinating but far from perfect counterpoint to feminist writings of the 1970s and '80s.

The actor started his career during the era of the Hollywood studio system. In 1988, he went to China in 1988, and directed an all Chinese production of "The Caine Mutiny." Heston's written about that project in a new book, Beijing Dairy. He joins Fresh Air to talk about his decades-long career in cinema.

National Organization for Women vice president Patricia Ireland says that the cultural place and treatment of women both in Arab countries and the American military is evidence of a gender apartheid. She joins Fresh Air to explain her organization's positions.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the singer's album, "Enlightenment." Tucker says it's a partial return to Morrison's more accessible, folk-rock roots.

For 40 years, Tames was the White house photographer for the New York Times. He's collected some of his best-known pictures in a new book called "Eye on Washington."

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg reviews "Cultural Misunderstandings: The French-American Experience" by Raymonde Carroll. It's a look at the different ways different cultures behave and think.

World Music commentator Milo Miles reviews the work of Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour. Aside from his excellent music, Miles praises N'Dour's political consciousness and respect for women.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Heartbeats Accelerating, the new album by Kate and Anna McGarrigle. He says it's an accessible, updated version of their austere, folk sound.

Literary critic Denis Donogue was a Catholic who grew up in a community suspicious of Protestants. His memoir about his life in Northern Ireland, and his father's career in the constabulary, is called "Warrenpoint."

When writer Natalie Kusz was six years old, her family moved from Los Angeles to the Alaskan wilderness. That first winter, a neighbor's sled dog attacked Kusz, and tore off part of her face. Kusz's memoir details that event and its effect on the family.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "Possession" by A. S. Byatt. It's a throwback to the big Victorian novels of the 19th century, but with postmodern nods to contemporary literary theory.

Book critic John Leonard reviews "Jurassic Park," the new novel by Michael Crichton. Leonard says it's a boy's adventure story that could sell forever.

Book critic John Leonard reviews "Cuba: A Journey," journalist Jacobo Timerman's scathing account of everyday life under Castro.