A Modern Day Miortia

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2005/03/writer-scaled.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:6:{s:5:"width";i:2560;s:6:"height";i:1708;s:4:"file";s:25:"2005/03/writer-scaled.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:14:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"writer-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"writer-771x515.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:515;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"writer-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"writer-768x513.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:513;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"writer-1536x1025.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1025;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"2048x2048";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"writer-2048x1367.jpg";s:5:"width";i:2048;s:6:"height";i:1367;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"writer-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"writer-800x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"writer-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"writer-466x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:466;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"writer-397x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:397;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"writer-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"writer-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"writer-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:16:"Antonio Litterio";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:12:"CC BY-SA 3.0";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:14:"Power of Words";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}s:14:"original_image";s:10:"writer.jpg";}
        )

)
1636109159 
1109635200

He’s a writer known for his dark wit and his outsider’s take on the world he lives in. Andrei Codrescu was born in Romania in 1946 and was forced to flee his country twenty years later. He began publishing his work in the seventies and seems to have his hands in all things literary — be it poetry, essays or novels. Codrescu also edits the literary magazine “The Exquisite Corpse”; public radio fans will know him from his regular commentary on NPR’s All Things Considered.

Codrescu is the featured writer at Birmingham Southern College’s Writing Today Conference. He stopped by the studio to speak with WBHM’s Rosemary Pennington about writing and his latest novel Wakefield — the story of a man forced to find his “true life” after the Devil comes calling. But Wakefield’s not the only one going through a crisis, the Devil’s got problems of his own.

Wondering what exactly a “miorita” is?

It’s a lovely Romania folk ballad of a sheep’s devotion to her beloved shepard. She tells the shepard he’s about to be killed and asks him to run away. He refuses, deciding to meet his fate. He then asks his ewe, Miorita, to tell his mother he isn’t dead, but instead married the daughter of a king. Miorita does as he wishes and travels about the land, telling the story of how her beloved married a princess.

The tale has been handed down for ages and changes a bit with each telling, but at its heart is always the willingness of the sheep to turn a tragic situation into a lovely story. The path the sheep took on her mythical travels has been said to define the boundaries of Romania’s artistic imagination; boundaries that are constantly shifting as new Romanian artists, writers and musicians develop.

Looking for more information about Andrei Codrescu?

 

Elon Musk’s $1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes can proceed, a Pennsylvania judge says

Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta in Pennsylvania — ruling after Musk’s lawyers said the winners are paid spokespeople and not chosen by chance — did not immediately explain his reasoning.

Puerto Rico holds general election that promises to be historic

Puerto Rico is holding elections that will be historic regardless of which of the top two gubernatorial candidates wins.

Boeing machinists approve contract, bringing an end to a bruising seven-week strike

Striking machinists voted to approve an agreement that will hike wages by 38%. The deal was endorsed by union leaders, who warned that Boeing’s next offer might be worse.

States and cities beef up security to prepare for potential election-related violence

Washington state's governor activated the National Guard to stand by to help local law enforcement as needed. Meanwhile, extra security is in place at locations across Washington, D.C.

When will mail-in and absentee ballots be counted?

Various state rules regarding when election officials can process and count mail ballots means it will likely take some time after Election Day before the results from these ballots are fully known.

When do polls close in every state? Here’s a timeline

The Associated Press can't call any races until polls close in their respective state. Here's a breakdown of when that will happen.

More Arts and Culture Coverage