The Sound of Young America: Colson Whitehead, Author of Sag Harbor

Episode 121

14th July 2010

Colson Whitehead is one of America’s most acclaimed novelists. He was the recepient of a MacArthur “genius” grant for his fiction, which includes Apex Hides the Hurt and John Henry Days. His latest novel is Sag Harbor, about the African American beach enclave.

Episode notes

Colson Whitehead is one of America’s most acclaimed novelists. He was the recipient of a MacArthur “genius” grant for his fiction, which includes Apex Hides the Hurt and John Henry Days. His latest novel is Sag Harbor, about the African American beach enclave.

We talk with Whitehead about why he chose to write a coming-of-age novel without any grand revelations – no bodies found in caves, no one hit by cars. We also chat about why he made such a firm turn away from high-concept fiction towards unassuming naturalism, and how he overcame his fear of teenagers and his own teenage years.

In this episode...

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Maximum Fun Producer
Maximum Fun Production Fellow

Guests

  • Colson Whitehead

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Bullseye is a celebration of the best of arts and culture in public radio form. Host Jesse Thorn sifts the wheat from the chaff to bring you in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary minds in our culture.

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