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Novelist Ian Frazier on His Family History

Frazier is the author of "Family," a book which traces his ancestors back to the 1600s. His inspiration for the book came from old letters he found after the death of his parents in 1987 and 1988. Their death gave him the desire to find "a meaning that would defeat death" in the letters. Frazier is also the author of "Dating Your Mom," "Nobody Better, Better Than Nobody," and "Great Plains." He is a regular contributor to the "New Yorker."

15:18

Other segments from the episode on November 1, 1994

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, November 1, 1994: Interview with Dawn Upshaw; Interview with Ian Frazier; Review of Abraham Burton's album "Closest to the Sun."

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