Terry Gross

This year (April 9) marks the centennial of the birth of singer and political activist Paul Robeson. This week he was also given a lifetime achievement award at the Grammy Awards. We'll hear from his biographer Martin Duberman. He was selected by Paul Robeson Jr. to write a biography of his father Paul Robeson. (REBROADCAST from 2/24/89)

Actor and singer Harry Belafonte. This week it was announced that he will be the first recipient of the International Marian Anderson Award, for his contributions as an artist and as a humanitarian. (It will be given to him during a ceremony on Saturday June 27th in Philadelphia) Belafotne was born in Harlem and raised in the hills of Jamaica where he absorbed the song and music of the island life around him. Belafonte's first love was theater, however: he wasn't convinced that popular singing would take him as far emotionally as Shakespeare did.

Novelist Denise Giardina has written a historical fiction on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer -- a German pastor and theologian who, along with a group of German government and military officials plotted to assassinate Adolf Hitler and topple his regime. Giardina's new book is "Saints and Villains" (Norton). Giardina is a former Episcopal deacon, who renounced her ordination vows for active lay ministry. She's also the author of the books "Storming Heaven" and "The Unquiet Earth." (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

Simon Beaufoy wrote the screenplay for the film "The Full Monty" which has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Screenplay and Best Picture. It was his first feature film credit. Previous to this, Beaufoy produced several short dramas, a documentary, and written a play. He's currently writing the new feature film "The Darkest Light" for his own company Footprint Films. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

Former head of the FBI's Serial Crime Unit, John Douglas. His new book is "Obsession: The FBI's Legendary Profiler Probes the Psyches of Killers, Rapists and Stalkers and Their Victims and Tells How to Fight Back" (Simon & Schuster). For 20 years Douglas investigated serial murders for the FBI, and developed techniques to get criminals to talk, and to lure them into capture. He also pioneered criminal profiling. Many of his techniques have been adopted by police departments and prosecutors nationwide.

Shock-rock star Marilyn Manson has developed a following as a cross-dressing, anti-Christ. He's been likened to Alice Cooper for his ghoulish theatricality. He's also been the subject of Senate subcommittee hearings, and his concerts have been banned. His 1996 album "Antichrist Superstar" was a hit. He's written his autobiography "The Long Hard Road out of Hell" (Regan Books) about his childhood as Brian Wagner in a dysfunctional home in Canton, Ohio.

Novelist Russell Banks. His books which often depict working class life include "The Sweet Hereafter" and "Affliction" both of which have been made into films. His newest book is "Cloudsplitter" (HarperCollins) based on the life of John Brown who tried and failed to ignite a slave rebellion in 1859 in Harpers Ferry, Va.

Temple Grqandin is one of the nation's top designers of livestock facilities. She is also autistic. In her book, "Thinking in Pictures: and Other Reports From My Life with Autism" she describes how her inner-autistic world has led her to develop animal empathy. An installation of her work, including the squeeze chair she developed is currently on display at MIT. Grandin will speak at MIT on Thursday, February 26 for more information call 617-253-4680. (REBROADCAST from 11/27/95)

Broadway composer John Kander of the song writing team, Kander & Ebb. They wrote the music for "Cabaret" and "Chicago." A revival of "Cabaret" is previewing on Broadway and the cast recording of "Chicago" has been nominated for a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album. (REBROADCAST from 5/7/91)

John Berendt is the author of the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good And Evil" (Random House). Last Sunday it broke the long standing record for a hardcover work of fiction or nonfiction being on the New York Times bestseller list. It's been on the list for 187 weeks.