17 min listen
Alex Haley nearly lost it all writing 'Roots'
Alex Haley nearly lost it all writing 'Roots'
ratings:
Length:
7 minutes
Released:
Feb 9, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
To recognize Black History Month, Book of the Day is digging into the archives to bring you some important interviews. In 1977, author Alex Haley told NPR he didn't want to put the main character of Roots, Kunta Kinte, on a slave ship. To prepare for writing that portion of the novel, Haley flew to Africa and caught a voyage home on a cargo ship — sneaking down into the hold after dinner. In the mornings, he would write notes about what he thought Kunta's experience would have been like. He told NPR's Marty Griffen that the experience weighed him down so much it nearly cost him his life.
Released:
Feb 9, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Food is a gateway to the new and familiar in 'Crying in H Mart' and 'Gastro Obscura': Authors Michelle Zauner and Cecily Wong explain how our relationship with food goes far beyond its nutritional value: it's a gateway to old memories and new experiences. by NPR's Book of the Day