Marguerite Young Interview (1976)
This program introduces the novel Miss Macintosh, My Darling by author Marguerite Young (1908-1995). This under-recognized masterpiece of American literature was read on the air over the course of a year, as part of Charles Ruas' radio Reading Experiment of 1976-77. In similar form to the Angel in the Forest segment, Anaïs Nin provides a poetic introduction for the author. Charles Ruas then conducts an intimate and revealing interview with Marguerite Young in the WBAI studio. Often compared to James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake, Young's novel resonates with unique and poignant observations of American culture, in an epic and surrealist poetic prose. It took Young eighteen years of work to complete this dense, two volume novel.
This program has been created with the assistance of Charles Ruas; and by agreement with The Yale Beinecke Library, home to the Marguerite Young Papers. Special thanks to Dr. Contance Eichenlaub for her passion and generosity.
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Historic Audio from the Archives of Charles Ruas
RADIO SERIES
An unparalleled collection of recovered and restored programs from the seventies produced by Charles Ruas, and featuring Allen Ginsberg, John Giorno, Anaïs Nin, William Boroughs, Buckminster Fuller, Sylvia Plath, Pablo Neruda, and Jorge Luis Borges, among numerous others.
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Marguerite Young: Miss Macintosh, My Darling
RADIO SERIES
In 1976-77, Charles Ruas produced a series of WBAI radio programs focused on literature and radio performance, called "The Reading Experiment". As part of this series, Miss MacIntosh, My Darling was read over a year-long period by Marguerite Young’s contemporaries from the New York City literature, music, and theater communities. All readings are underscored with soundscapes and music by artist Rob Wynne.
The readings in the their entirety can be listened to here, as part of the Historic Audio from the Archives of Charles Ruas.
This program has been restored by The Clocktower Radio; with the assistance of Charles Ruas; and by agreement with The Yale Beinecke Library, home to the Marguerite Young Papers. Special thanks to Dr. Contance Eichenlaub for her passion and generosity.
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