Episode 144: Novelist Spotlight #144: Poet, novelist and Cornell professor Robert Morgan on the life and writing of Thomas Wolfe

Novelist Spotlight

In the spotlight is Cornell University professor of literature Robert Morgan, who will discuss the life, times and writings of famed novelist Thomas Wolfe. Morgan has a good deal in common with the author. Thomas Wolfe hails from Asheville, N.C., and Robert Morgan hails from Henderson County, just south of Asheville. They have the same birthday (Oct. 3), and both are graduates from the Chapel Hill campus of the University of North Carolina, an both lived most of their adult lives in the northern U.S.

Robert Morgan is himself a poet, short story writer, novelist and author of nonfiction books — 15 books of poetry, nine volumes of fiction, and three nonfiction books. His bestselling novel “Gap Creek” was an Oprah Book Club selection.

We discuss:

>> Being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey

>> What people don’t get about poetry

>> The sound and voice of poetry

>> Learning to be reckless with one’s prose

>> Aline Bernstein, Thomas Wolfe’s mistress and muse

>> Southerners and storytelling?

>> Etc.

Learn more about Robert Morgan’s writing and books here: https://www.robert-morgan.com/

 

Learn more about Robert Morgan’s professorship at Cornell University here: https://english.cornell.edu/robert-morgan

Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at [email protected]. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.