The Writer's Almanac
Summary: The Writer's Almanac is a daily podcast of poetry and historical interest pieces, usually of literary significance, hosted by Garrison Keillor.
On this day in 1960, Penguin Books was acquitted in a British obscenity case regarding D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterly’s Lover.
On this day in 1938, underdog racing horse Seabiscuit won the “Match of the Century” against the 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral.
Today is Halloween, and also the 501st anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the door of a church.
On this day in 1938, a radio dramatization of H.G. Wells’s “The War of the Worlds” caused millions of America to believe aliens were invading.
Today is the 89th anniversary of “Black Tuesday,” on which date more than 16 million shares of stock were sold off in a panic in the stock market crash.
It was on this day in 1886 that the Statue of Liberty was officially unveiled to a huge crowd standing in the cold and rain.
It’s the birthday of writer Zadie Smith (1975), who published the critically acclaimed White Teeth when she was just 24 years old.
Featuring a poem for school days by Maria Mazziotti Gillan.
It’s the birthday of Pablo Picasso, who said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
It's the birthday of writer and explorer Alexandra David-Néel (1868), a French woman who adventured across the world and became a Tantric lama at age 52.
It's the birthday of Ang Lee (1954), who had not yet mastered the English language when he directed a 1995 film adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.
It's the birthday of composer Franz Liszt (1811), whose frenzied fans inspired the term ”Lisztomania."
It’s the birthday of the late actress and author Carrie Fisher, who said of her hypothetical obituary, “I want it reported that I drowned in moonlight, strangled by my own bra."
It's the birthday of the poet Arthur Rimbaud (1854), who wrote all of his poetry in the space of less than five years, from age 15 to 20.
It’s the birthday of Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl with a Pearl Earring, who said, “Don't write about yourself — you aren't as interesting as you think."