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Peeling Away the Truth Between a Writer and a Murderer

Maureen Corrigan reviews Doctor Johnson and Mr. Savage, by Richard Holmes, about the legendary friendship between Samuel Johnson and Richard Savage.

04:12
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Other segments from the episode on August 30, 1994

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, August 30, 1994: Interview with Sherwin Nuland; Interview with David Sedaris; Review of Richard Holmes's book "Doctor Johnson and Mr. Savage."
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22:24

The Myth of the Dignified Death

Dr Sherwin Nuland is a surgeon who teaches at Yale. In his recent book, "How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter," he writes that few of us have an understanding of the way people die; 80 percent of Americans die in the hospital, and, for the most part their deaths are concealed. Nuland hopes to de-mythologize the process of dying by emphasizing its biological and clinical reality.

Interview
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16:23

Essayist David Sedaris's "Barrel Fever"

The playwright, housecleaner and former elf to Santa launched his radio commentator career with his SantaLand Diaries, broadcast during NPR's "Morning Edition" in 1992. His humor has been described as a "caustic mix of J. D. Salinger and John Waters." Along with his sister, Amy Sedaris, he wrote the play "Stitches," which was described as a "macabre and hilarious social satire." Now he's made his literary debut with a new collection of stories and essays, called "Barrel Fever."

Interview

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Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

Alexandra Auder's mother, Viva, was one of Andy Warhol's muses. Growing up in Warhol's orbit meant Auder's childhood was an unusual one. For several years, Viva, Auder and Auder's younger half-sister, Gaby Hoffmann, lived in the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. It was was famous for having been home to Leonard Cohen, Dylan Thomas, Virgil Thomson, and Bob Dylan, among others.

Interview

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52:30

Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

Alexandra Auder's mother, Viva, was one of Andy Warhol's muses. Growing up in Warhol's orbit meant Auder's childhood was an unusual one. For several years, Viva, Auder and Auder's younger half-sister, Gaby Hoffmann, lived in the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. It was was famous for having been home to Leonard Cohen, Dylan Thomas, Virgil Thomson, and Bob Dylan, among others.

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43:04

This fake 'Jury Duty' really put James Marsden's improv chops on trial

In the series Jury Duty, a solar contractor named Ronald Gladden has agreed to participate in what he believes is a documentary about the experience of being a juror--but what Ronald doesn't know is that the whole thing is fake.

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