Dawn Fallik
Journalism

Erik Larson on the search for new things to write about

When author Erik Larson started research for his latest book, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania, about the 1915 sinking of the luxury ocean liner, he wasn’t expecting many surprises. As with the Titanic, everyone knows the ending: Almost 1,200 passengers died when a German submarine torpedoed the ship off the coast of Ireland.

Q&A with Diane Rehm: On solitude, honor, and the art of the interview

Diane Rehm is at a crossroads in her life. Her husband, John, died in 2014 after years of living with Parkinson’s disease. She plans to retire next year from her National Public Radio call-in program, The Diane Rehm Show, ending a 37-year career in radio. In September, she will turn 80.