Literature

For our "Spring Break Book Club Week," we listen back to a conversation about the Iowa-set novel A Thousand Acres, which was adapted into an opera that premiered at the Des Moines Metro Opera in July 2022.

On this Banned Books Week, an annual nationwide celebration of the freedom to read, we listen back to a conversation about recent book challenges across Iowa and the U.S.

In 1948, Dubuque-native Jane Burrell died in a plane crash in France, making her the first Central Intelligence Agency officer to die in the agency’s service.

Author Jane Smiley's literary retelling of King Lear, A Thousand Acres, is taking the stage as part of Des Moines Metro Opera's 50th season.

The Talk of Iowa Book Club has been reading A Thousand Acres, by Jane Smiley. Host Charity Nebbe discusses the book's impact with the author, as well as two expert readers, including one who has adapted the book into an opera premiering next month.

Listen back to Charity Nebbe's conversation with James Anthony, who rewrote every one of Shakespeare’s sonnets.

A high school teacher gives us a reading list full of great African American Literature, and we learn about The Jordan House in West Des Moines.

Charity Nebbe and her guests talk about new ideas, and new books, inspired by classic literature.

The Trump administration announced Thursday it is leaving UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural organization, but Iowa City still expects to keep its…

Iowa City has been selected to host a meeting of the world’s UNESCO Cities of Literature.Delegates from all over the world will be in town for a three-day…