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The Writer's Almanac from Sunday, January 14, 2001
The Writer's Almanac from Sunday, January 14, 2001"January," by Baron Wormser, from Mulroney and Others (Sarabande Books). It's the birthday of writer Anchee Min, born in Shanghai, China (1957). She came to this country in 1984, and a few years later began writing about her experiences in China. The resulting book, Red Azalea, was published in 1994. She has also written two novels, Katherine (1996) and Becoming Madame Mao (2000). It's the birthday of American novelist Tillie Olsen, born Tillie Lerner, in Omaha, Nebraska (1913). A young radical, she started work on a novel about the struggles of the working class, but put it aside when she was raising her children. Her short story, "Tell Me a Riddle," won the O. Henry Award for the best American short story in 1961, and became the title story of her first published book (1962). In Silences (1979), she wrote about the conflict between motherhood and writing. "Children need you now . . . The very fact that these are real needs, that you feel them as your own, that there is no one else responsible for these needs, gives them primacy. It is distraction, not meditation, that becomes habitual; interruption, not continuity; . . . Unused capacities atrophy, cease to be." It's the birthday of novelist John Dos Passos, born in Chicago (1896), to a wealthy family that sent him to Harvard University. He became one of the émigré writers in Paris, part of the circle that included Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and E. E. Cummings. He made his reputation with his novel Manhattan Transfer (1925), followed by The 42nd Parallel (1930), 1919 (1932) and The Big Money (1936). It's the birthday of Hugh Lofting, born in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England (1886). When he was 26, he decided to settle in New York City and become a writer, even though he was trained as a civil engineer. He had written letters to his children containing stories about a character named Dr. Dolittle, who was able to talk to animals. In 1922, he came out with The Story of Dr. Dolittle (1922). Its first sequel, The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle (1923), won the Newbery Medal for the best children's book of the year. Between 1922 and 1929, Lofting produced one Dr. Dolittle book each year. He died in 1947. Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.® CLICK HEREto order The Writer’s Almanac red shirt! If you are a paid subscriber to The Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor, thank you! Your financial support is used to maintain these newsletters, websites, and archive. If you’re not yet a paid subscriber and would like to become one, support can be made through our garrisonkeillor.com store, by check to Prairie Home Productions, P.O. Box 2090, Minneapolis, MN 55402, or by clicking the SUBSCRIBE button. This financial support is not tax deductible.
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