How a 'fluke' uncovered a rare autobiography, giving a narrative on slavery new life
NPR's Juana Summers talks with literary historian Jonathan Schroeder about stumbling upon an autobiography by John Swanson Jacobs.
History
Mythos and Melodrama in the Philippines (Throwback)
Welcome to the "Epic of Marcos." In this tale of a family that's larger than life, Ferdinand Marcos, the former dictator of the Philippines, is at the center. But the figures that surround him are just as important: Imelda, his wife and muse; Bongbong, his heir; and the United States, his faithful sidekick. The story of the Marcos family is a blueprint for authoritarianism, laying out clearly how melodrama, paranoia, love, betrayal and a hunger for power collide to create a myth capable of propelling a nation. Today on the show, the rise, fall, and resurrection of a dynasty — and what that means for democracy worldwide.
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To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/throughline.
Understanding the refugee experience, through a time-traveling British colonizer
This week Code Switch digs into The Ministry of Time, a new book that author Kailene Bradley describes as a "romance about imperialism." It focuses on real-life Victorian explorer Graham Gore, who died on a doomed Arctic expedition in 1847. But in this novel, time travel is possible and Gore is brought to the 21st century where he's confronted with the fact that everyone he's ever known is dead, that the British Empire has collapsed, and that perhaps he was a colonizer.
New documentary charts the rise and fall of iconic Memphis record label
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Jamila Wignot, the filmmaker behind a new documentary series called Stax: Soulsville USA, about the story of the legendary record label.
Is Elvis' Graceland actually up for sale? His granddaughter, alleging fraud, says no
Riley Keough, Elvis' granddaughter and sole heir, says in a lawsuit that the company advertising a foreclosure sale of his Graceland property is using fraudulent documents — and may not exist at all.
Beethoven may have had lead poisoning
Samples of Beethoven's hair reveal he may have suffered from lead poisoning, which could explain some of the difficult physical maladies the composer suffered in his life.
How 'The Sympathizer' depicts the Vietnam War
NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben speaks with culture writer Daniel Chin about how the new HBO series The Sympathizer differs from other Hollywood depictions of the Vietnam War.
Anti-war protests, a Chicago DNC: Is it 1968 all over again? Some historians say no
There are clear similarities between 1968 and 2024, from presidential elections and anti-war protests to new Planet of the Apes movies. But historians tell NPR there are some key differences too.
Preserving the history of the semi-professional Negro League baseball circuit
A group in South Texas is on a mission to preserve the history of the semi-pro offshoot of the Negro Leagues, including teams that played long after Jackie Robinson broke MLB's color barrier.
This film festival spotlights efforts to preserve and discover lost movies
The Restored and Rediscovered film festival begins Monday at the Jacob Burns Film Festival in New York City. It's meant to put a spotlight on movies that have been since lost.