Arts

Books
Arts

Joe Hill On 'Fireman,' Family And ... Fart Cookies?

8:54am May 22, 2016

by NPR Staff

Novelist Joe Hill's latest, The Fireman, is an apocalyptic plague tale about a pathogen that makes sufferers explode. He says his father Stephen King has had a great influence on his storytelling.

The first issue of Black Panther, written by Ta-Nehisi Coates (with art by Brian Stelfreeze) is the top-selling comic of 2016 so far.

Books
Arts

Now At Your Comic Shop: Ta-Nehisi Coates And Michael Chabon

8:54am May 22, 2016

by NPR Staff

Acclaimed authors — including Ta-Nehisi Coates and Michael Chabon — have begun penning comic books, to great acclaim. Coates' first issue of Black Panther is the year's top-selling comic so far.

From 'Apprentice' To 'MacGyver,' TV Raids Old Shows To Excite Advertisers

8:13am May 22, 2016

by Linda Holmes

The TV networks recently tried to sell their new shows to advertisers at the 2016 upfronts. But most of the shows being sold are things you've already seen.

Books
Arts

'Letters To Kevin': What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate

7:00am May 22, 2016

by Jason Heller

Stephen Dixon's new book is a loopy, madcap tale with a simple premise: A young man is trying to call an old friend. But he's foiled at every turn, by a series of events that get increasingly weird.

Classical music fans are familiar with Robert Schumann. But they might not know that his his wife, Clara, was an accomplished composer, too.

'Sounds And Sweet Airs' Remembers The Forgotten Women Of Classical Music

6:40am May 22, 2016

by NPR Staff

You may be familiar with Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann. But did you know Mendelssohn's sister Fanny and Schumman's wife Clara were accomplished composers, too?

Arts

Archaeologists Find Early Shakespeare Theater Was Rectangular

10:33pm May 21, 2016

Archaeologist Heather Knight tells NPR's Scott Simon about how the Curtain Theatre, where Shakespeare staged early plays, was rectangular and not round.

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Anthony Mackie On Portraying Martin Luther King Jr. In 'All The Way'

5:30pm May 21, 2016

All The Way is a drama from HBO that chronicles President Lyndon B. Johnson's struggle to pass the Civil Rights Act. Michel Martin speaks with Anthony Mackie, who portrays Martin Luther King Jr.

The curator of the Qarawiyyin Library, Abdelfattah Bougchouf, opens an original version of a famous work, Muqaddimah, written by historian Ibn Khaldun in the 14th century. The library in Fez is one of the world's oldest working libraries, dating to the 10

The Delicate Task Of Restoring One Of The World's Oldest Libraries

5:20pm May 21, 2016

by Leila Fadel

After a four-year restoration, Morocco is poised to reopen the Qarawiyyin Library, founded more than a millennium ago by a pioneering woman and home to some of the earliest works of Islam.

Coming Up Sunday: The Directors Of 'Weiner'

5:20pm May 21, 2016

by Michel Martin

On Sunday's All Things Considered, we will take a look at Weiner, a new documentary that chronicles the political failure of Anthony Weiner as he ran for New York City mayor.

Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia celebrates after winning last year's race. This year, for its 100th race, the Indianapolis 500 will bring back an official race-day poem.

Sports
Arts

Ode To Indy 500: Track Poet Tradition Returns

1:01pm May 21, 2016

by Chris Arnold

Cars, Coors, and... Coleridge?/ "For Those Who Love Fast, Loud Things,"/ words to inspire/ the track bard brings.