Edwidge Danticat is known for her novels and short stories. But her new book, We're Alone, is a collection of eight wide-ranging essays. These essays touch on intimate and historical topics: Danticat's past and present, the history of Haiti, parenting, migration and the author's connection to her literary heroes. In today's episode, Danticat speaks with NPR's Ari Shapiro about the complexity of nostalgia and the Haiti she remembers.
To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday
Amanda Holmes reads Randall Jarrell’s “The Bird of Night.” Have a suggestion for a poem by a (dead) writer? Email us: podcast@theamericanscholar.org. If we select your entry, you’ll win a copy of a poetry collection edited by David Lehman.
This episode was produced by Stephanie Bastek and features the song “Canvasback” by Chad Crouch.
Located on the island of La Gomera in the Spanish Canary Islands is one of the most unusual languages on Earth.
For centuries, the people on this island have been able to communicate over vast distances not by shouting, using smoke signals, or drums, but rather by whistling.
This system allowed them to communicate just as easily as if they were talking, and it is still being used today.
Learn more about Silbo Gomero, the whistling language of the Canary Islands, on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
Sponsors
This episode is sponsored by the Tourist Office of Spain. Plan your next trip to Spain at Spain.info.
Carole Hopson wanted to be a pilot since childhood, but it wasn't until her mid-30s that she learned about Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to earn her pilot's license in 1921. Coleman's story not only encouraged Hopson to pursue her own career as a commercial pilot, but it also inspired A Pair of Wings, Hopson's first novel. In today's episode, Hopson speaks with NPR's Michel Martin about Coleman's groundbreaking path and about Hopson's own experience as one of few women of color working as a pilot for a major airline. To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday
Every country in Africa is unique and has its own history. However, many African countries share a similar story over the last 150 years, having gone through European colonization and decolonization.
The nation of Liberia, however, has a history, unlike any other country in the world. From its founding to its modern-day governance, the story of the country is truly fascinating.
Learn more about the West African country Liberia and its unique history on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
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Sign up for ButcherBox today by going to Butcherbox.com/daily and use code daily at checkout to get $30 off your first box!