Docs & Dialogue: American Stories: A Reading Road Trip

Docs & Dialogue: American Stories: A Reading Road Trip
Wednesday, March 4th, 5:00 p.m.
American Stories: A Reading Road Trip begins in Rhode Island, a state with a long and varied literary tradition. This 35-minute documentary examines Rhode Island’s literary legacy, from the revolutionary writings of Roger Williams and the Gothic fiction of H. P. Lovecraft to Edgar Allan Poe’s time in Providence and the work of Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jhumpa Lahiri, including Interpreter of Maladies and The Namesake. The program also includes interviews with writers and illustrators such as Anika Aldamuy Denise (Planting Stories), Christopher Denise (Knight Owl), Caldecott honoree Oge Mora (Thank You, Omu!), David Macaulay (The Way Things Work), and Elizabeth Rush (Rising). Their perspectives highlight how Rhode Island’s landscape, architecture, and arts community influence both literary and visual storytelling.
Viewers will also see historic and cultural institutions including the Providence Athenaeum, Redwood Library, and John Hay Library, along with an examination of the role the Rhode Island School of Design has played in shaping generations of artists and storytellers. The documentary is not rated and is made possible through PBS Books. The program is free and open to the public.