Paul Fisher tells us about the James Family: the writer Henry James, the philosopher and psychologist William James, and the lesser known but influential sister, feminist Alice James. His book is HOUSE OF WITS: An Intimate Portrait of the James Family.

Fisher is also the author of Artful Itineraries: European Art and American Careers in    High Culture, 1865-1920. He teaches American literature at Wellesley College.

And Francesca talks with some young people from Holyoke’s inner city about their new found love of Shakespeare. They took part in a summer collaboration between the Massachusetts Center for Renaissance Studies, the Enchanted Circle Theater and the Holyoke public schools* that put on a production of Romeo and Juliet with the young actors from Holyoke. We also hear from instructors Aaron Brandes of the Enchanted Circle Theater and Tim Zajac of the Center for Renaissance Studies.

The program was funded by the University of Massachusetts College of Humanities and Fine Arts and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.