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The Romance of the North

Beverly & Pack
/
Creative Commons
Aurora Borealis in Alaska

It's cold, snowy winter times like this that make us question why we choose to live in a place where snow, sleet, and wind define one-third of the year.  It's a great excuse to complain, but does it also make us stronger and better people?

Icelanders leave theirbabies out in freezingcold to nap. The north inspires people to reflect... and to cook. The Danish even have a word for that feeling of snuggling up on a frigid day -Hygge. (It sort of means "cozy.") 

This hour, we'll explore the idea of "northmanship." We'll talk about what it means to be from the north and to be inspired by the north. Is there a connection that we make to truth and beauty? Are we obsessed with it because it's slowly disappearing?

Join the conversation onFacebook and Twitter.

GUESTS: 

  • Michael Robinson - Author, Assistant Professor of History at University of Hartford. He writes a blog about science, history, and exploration called Time to Eat the Dogs
  • Luanne Rice - Author of more than 30 novels, including 22 consecutive New York Times best sellers 
  • Mary Ehrlander - Director of the Arctic and Northern Studies Program and History Professor at University of Alaska, Fairbanks
  • Halla Oskarsdottir - Icelandic journalist, columnist, and book critic

Julia Pistell and Chion Wolf contributed to this program, which originally aired on March 5, 2015.

Catie Talarski is Senior Director of Storytelling and Radio Programming at Connecticut Public.
Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Colin can be reached at colin@ctpublic.org.

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