How Julia Alvarez was inspired by the working class

While at the Yaddo writing retreat, Julia Alvarez found herself suffering from writers block. Inspiration struck when she befriended the maids, housekeepers and cooks and heard their stories, and eventually put together her book of poetry, "Housekeeping." "I wanted to write about the lore that comes when women are talking as they're doing their housework," said Alvarez.

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Clip Season 38 Episode 5 Length 02:52 Premiere: 09/17/24

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Season 38 Episodes

Show Episodes

Show Clips & Previews

Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around

S38 E6 Length 52:55 Premiere Date 12/16/24

Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined

S38 E5 Length 1:23:57 Premiere Date 09/17/24

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S38 E4 Length 1:23:35 Premiere Date 08/27/24

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S38 E3 Length 1:40:39 Premiere Date 04/05/24

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S38 E2 Length 1:43:31 Premiere Date 03/29/24

HOPPER: An American love story

S38 E1 Length 53:03 Premiere Date 01/02/24

Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined

Preview Length 01:57 Premiere Date 09/17/24

How Julia Alvarez conceived the story for her novel "Afterlife"

Clip Length 01:05 Premiere Date 09/17/24

Julia Alvarez on the female perspective in "In the Time of the Butterflies"

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Clip Length 01:29 Premiere Date 09/17/24

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Clip Length 05:29 Premiere Date 03/09/18

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How Julia Alvarez was inspired by the working class

Recent Episodes

W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause

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Clips & Previews

Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined

How Julia Alvarez conceived the story for her novel "Afterlife"

Julia Alvarez on the female perspective in "In the Time of the Butterflies"

How Julia Alvarez brought truth to the Mirabal sisters in her novel "In the Time of the Butterflies"

The true story behind "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents"

How Julia Alvarez was inspired by the working class

Remembering Carol Channing

Remembering Stan Lee

Remembering Paula Wayne

Artists Flight Series Promo

Remembering Neil Simon

Remembering Anthony Bourdain

Against All Odds: Meet the Woman Behind American Masters

Specials

How Clive Davis became a titan of the music industry

Michael Sarnoski: What Robin Hood and Folklore Tell Us About Ourselves Today

Mike Wallace reflects on the 60 Minutes tobacco story controversy

Tyler James Williams on 30 Years of Acting and Protecting the Next Generation

Olivia Wilde on making “Tron: Legacy” with Jeff Bridges

Why Atsuko Okatsuka’s Comedy Connects Across Cultures

Stankface Standing Soldier: The Rise of Mato Wayuhi

W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause [EAD]

W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause [ASL]

Warren King: King of Cardboard

Greg Kinnear on Acting, AI, and Why Movies Still Matter

Aliah Irvine & Kehau Kapua’a: Kukulu

Chris Fleming Embraces the Chaos

Cindy Tran: From Here to Here

Lani B. Supreme: Legacy

Hannah Mayree: Songs of Reclamation

John Goodman on "The Big Lebowski" and Jeff Bridges

Alsarah: The Sonic Historian

Bella! This Woman's Place Is in the House [EAD]

Bella! This Woman's Place Is in the House [ASL]

Ani Liu: Eye Heart Womb

Sun Ra: Do The Impossible [ASL]

Sun Ra: Do The Impossible [EAD]

Night in Newark

Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire [ASL]

Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire [EAD]

Maryam Taghavi: Estranged Letters [Extended Audio Description]

How Leslie Jones Became a Comedian

Maryam Taghavi: Estranged Letters

Phoebe Robinson Shows Her Work

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore [EAD]

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore [ASL]

Sarah McLachlan: Making Music to Connect and Heal

Harvey Fierstein on gay representation on Broadway and its deep history

How Natasha Rothwell’s Life Brought Her to “The White Lotus”

When Ringo Starr met Mae West

Daniel Dae Kim Leads Spy Drama and Fights for Industry Change

Edel Rodriguez: Freedom is a Verb

Edel Rodriguez: Freedom is a Verb [ASL]

Edel Rodriguez: Freedom is a Verb [Extended Audio Description]

Mel Brooks' wild ride to his first Broadway show ever

John Kander and Fred Ebb on “Cabaret,” creativity and collaboration

House of Aama: Threads of Legacy

House of Aama: Threads of Legacy [Extended Audio Description]

House of Aama: Threads of Legacy [ASL]

Marcella [ASL]

Marcella [Extended Audio Description]

Norman Teague: Love Reigns Supreme

Norman Teague: Love Reigns Supreme [ASL]

Norman Teague: Love Reigns Supreme [Extended Audio Description]

Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny [ASL]

Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny [Extended Audio Description]

Phil Rosenthal’s Secret Recipe: Good Food and a Laugh

Janis Ian: Breaking Silence [ASL]

Janis Ian: Breaking Silence [Extended Audio Description + OC]

Danielle Scott: Ancestral Call