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For his 22nd novel, celebrated author and former intelligence officer John le Carre found inspiration in a real Russian criminal. Our Kind Of Traitor details the shady activities of a crime lord named Dima operating in Moscow's underworld of dirty money.

Beloved chef Madhur Jaffrey prepared for a life on stage and screen as an actress — but her longing for the food of her childhood led her to her other career. She looks back on her days in film and in the kitchen with NPR's Renee Montagne.

It may not be in your history books. But it ended with scores of sunken ships, hundreds of missing soldiers and Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere facing charges of cowardice and incompetence. What went so wrong on the New England coast back in 1779?

Mark Penn, a Democratic pollster who advises Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign, talks about Microtrends. Penn's book identifies dozens of niche audiences, from "caffeine crazies" to "snowed-under slobs."

What do a strong latte, a drop in barometric pressure, and soybeans have in common? Neurologist Dr. David Buchholz believes they're all triggers for migraines. And he doesn't believe heavy-duty pain medications are the answer.

The soldiers of the secret 23rd Special Forces played a unique role in World War II: to deceive the enemy and draw their attention away from real combat troops. The unit was made up of artists, designers, architects and sound engineers.

Octavius Catto led the fight to desegregate Philadelphia's horse-drawn streetcars, raised all-black regiments to fight in the Civil War, and pushed for black voting rights — all before the age of 32. Despite all that, he's barely remembered today. But a new book sheds life on his groundbreaking work.

Journalist Annia Ciezadlo covered the Iraq War and the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict for major newspapers. While abroad, she absorbed local recipes and the culture of food, and stories like the bravery of a mother driving across Baghdad for her 11-year-old daughter's birthday cake.

The folk singer, environmentalist and activist remains active and busy. He splits the firewood that heats his home overlooking the Hudson River, and he's just published a book of his collected writings and released two new albums.

The country singer brought unparalleled candor about the domestic realities of working-class women to country songwriting over the course of her 60-year career.