Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg reads from his works "The People, Yes" and "For You," pausing on occasion to comment, and speaks with Books in Profile host Virgilia Peterson about his poetry, Abraham Lincoln, and the writer in America.
Peterson reads from Sandburg's "Notes for a Preface" by way of introduction.
Peterson asks about Sandburg's estimation of modern letters. He tells us it is hard to tell which of a generation's writers will have lasting artistic value. The art of printing has been around only 3-400 years and mass printing only in the past 70. He doesn't see how anything will endure over millennia. He notes changes in technology in explaining the how little will last from the present day.
Sandburg reads from "The People, Yes", interrupting for comment as it strikes him.
They talk about Abraham Lincoln. There were no biographies of Lincoln when Sandburg was growing up. He sought out information on the great president and soon found himself writing the biography, deciding in the late 1920s to complete his work.
He discusses a public speech he gave in 1909 in Eau Claire, WI about labor and unionism. They have finally been able to make demands and progress has been made.
Peterson reads a section from Sandburg's introduction about "genius."
Sandburg reads "For You."
Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection
WNYC archives id: 150218
Municipal archives id: LT7006
