January 2, 2011 - Hour 1

Every now and then you meet someone who fills a room - or a radio studio - with the energizing tingle of pure oxygen. Natalie Zemon Davis is such a person. She has studied and written about almost every facet of history, concentrating on life in the 16th and 17th Centuries. She has written about marginalized women, religious riots, the impact of printing, the uses of proverbs and pardon seekers in 16th Century France. And she introduced the world to the great imposter Martin Guerre. Now at age 82, Professor Davis is the winner of the Holberg International Memorial Prize for her work in the humanities. And she has no intention of slowing down. Natalie Zemon Davis is our guest in our First Hour. Also in this hour, Michael's essay and a bit of your mail.