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Lev Tolstoy lived from 1828-1910. In 1881, the Russian writer accompanied peasants on a pilgrimage to visit sacred places, wearing wooden fiber shoes. In this Film Ideas video, explore Tolstoy's early life, military service,academic endeavors, romantic life, religious quest, and literary career.
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English
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An American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist, Langston Hughes was first recognized as an important literary figure during the 1920s, a period known as the "Harlem Renaissance," a cultural movement made famous because of the number of emerging black writers, poets and scholars. Hughes, more than any other black poet or writer, recorded faithfully the nuances of black life and its frustrations and was one of the earliest innovators...
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English
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Homer likely lived in the 8th century BC. In his time, the Ancient Greek poet was considered the greatest authority on poetry, morals, religion, and philosophy. In this Film Ideas video, explore Homer's heritage, writing style, and histwo most famousworks- The Iliad and The Odyssey.
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English
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Robert Louis Stevenson lived from 1850-1894. The Scottish writer, a man of poorhealth, wrote fascinatingadventures, capturing the imagination of many generations of readers. In this Film Ideas video, explore Stevenson's early life, education, health, works, romantic life, and literary success.
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English
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In this lively round-table discussion, moderator Melvyn Bragg; the late writer and critic Anthony Burgess; Professor George Steiner, author of Language and Silence; literary critic Hermione Lee; and writer and series consultant Professor Malcolm Bradbury debate what constitutes modernist writing. New literary themes generated by the era's political and social upheavals are also discussed, including time, the unconscious mind, alienation, the changing...
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English
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Obama is doing many of the same dangerous things that Bush did, says Chris Edelson, assistant professor at American University, referencing what he considers President Obama's broad interpretation of executive power. He points to Obama's unilateral military intervention in Libya and his defense of the National Security Agency's data collection on American citizens as just two examples of executive over-reach. In this interview, Edelson discusses the...
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English
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Roald Dahl, 1916-1990, Britain's best selling author of children's books like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "James and the Giant Peach," is known for his children's stories, but he led an adventurous early life as biplane pilot in Africa, RAF fighter pilot in WWII, and British intelligence agent. His daughter Ophelia and his second wife, Felicity Crosland Dahl, recall Dahl's family and writing life at Gipsy House in Great Missenden, England....
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English
Description
Technology and new market models are chipping away at the idea that the government is the sole-solution provider to social problems, argues author William Eggers. Whether it's new ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft or established corporations like Coca-Cola funding clean water abroad, "companies are finding that they actually can create a mutual advantage between solving problems and making a profit." In this interview, Eggers discusses the growth...
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English
Description
There's nothing as dangerous as perfect safety, says Megan McArdle, author of the new book, The Up Side of Down: Why Failing Well is the Key to Success. In this interview, McArdle says failure is inevitable, but how we handle our failures and whether we learn from them go a long way in shaping individuals, institutions, and entire societies. Drawing on personal anecdotes, current events, literature, and cutting-edge research, McArdle dissects our...