Born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, South Africa, Nelson Mandela grew up to be an influential activist and political leader. Despite being jailed for decades because he joined the fight against apartheid, Mandela became the first black president of South Africa and one of the most ce ...Show more
Frida Kahlo
Her self-portraits are well known: thick eyebrows, a striking stare, and a mysterious smile. But Frida Kahlo’s paintings weren’t just works of art; they portrayed life’s emotions and her own revolutionary ideals. The spirit of revolution defined her art, her life, and her ever-pr ...Show more
Oscar Wilde, author of The Importance of Being Earnest and The Ballad of Reading Gaol, is proposed by Will Self, a writer once described as a 'high powered satirical weapon'.In 1895, and at the height of his success, Wilde began libel proceedings against the Marquess of Queensber ...Show more
Even the best biographical depictions of Oscar Wilde often skip over the years he spent in prison, perhaps because the episode is so sad and painful. But in doing so, they miss the profundity of his life and writings. In this episode, Scott Carter, author of the new play Wilde Ma ...Show more
No single writer has shaped the way we speak and think more than William Shakespeare. Whether we’re being cruel to be kind, wearing our hearts on our sleeves, or spotting the green eye’d monster — it’s almost impossible to use the English language without quoting him. But who was ...Show more
Rod McKuen sold multiple millions of poetry books in the 60s and 70s. He released dozens of albums, was a regular on late night, and was even nominated for an Oscar. So, how did the most salable poet in American history simply disappear? On today’s episode, Slate writer Dan Kois ...Show more