As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, PBS Books Readers Club takes viewers on a literary journey across the country, exploring how place, history, and identity help shape the stories we tell. Hosts Fred Nahhat and Lauren Smith will highlight several contemporary authors from across the nation whose work helps form the rich tapestry of American storytelling. From sweeping nonfiction and powerful poetry to essays, children’s literature, mystery, and beloved novels, this episode celebrates the many voices that continue to define our shared story.
As Sue Monk Kidd, reflects, “Well, my first novel, The Secret Life of Bees, was heavily inspired by and drawn from my little hometown… I think it was the Greek philosopher Heraclitus who said, ‘Geography is fate,’ and that is certainly true of me and my writing.”
From cover to cover and coast to coast, celebrate the writers, communities, and landscapes that make up America’s literary map. Glimpse into the bookish culture of featured states and hear from authors whose work captures the spirit, complexity, and imagination of the places they call home. Whether you’re drawn to Western crime fiction, a poignant coming-of-age story, a lyrical reflection on the natural world, or a deeper look at American history, there is so much to discover.
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Dive even deeper into the American story with The American Revolution: A Film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. This sweeping documentary series brings America’s fight for independence vividly to life through powerful storytelling and the voices of historians, writers, and citizens who experienced the Revolution. Stream now on the PBS app or on pbs.org.
For more book-inspired programming, check out American Stories: A Reading Road Trip, another PBS Books program created in partnership with the Library of Congress. Each episode highlights the bookish culture of a different state or territory, featuring pages from the past, voices of today, and distinctive literary landmarks, libraries, and bookstores. Catch up on past episodes and stay up to date on new ones on the PBS Books YouTube channel, pbsbooks.org/readingroadtrip, and the PBS app.
