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Consider this page your guide to finding the coolest web features about books. Scroll down and you will find first drafts, audio clips, video clips, flash movies, and anything else that we hope gives you an entertaining insider look at the world of publishing.
behind the books | interviews with authors

We asked authors to dig into their files and provide us with material related to the writing of their books. Check out the results:
  • Richard Bernstein: Snapshots from the author's travels as chronicled in ULTIMATE JOURNEY.
  • Sarah Bird: Photographs and images from the era of THE YOKOTA OFFICERS CLUB.
  • Judy Blunt: Judy Blunt writes about the making of BREAKING CLEAN, about attending a one-room schoolhouse, about getting her first essay into publication. The author shares photos from the life of a Montana ranch--from her mother on horseback to cattle-sculpted saltlicks to prarie wildflowers.
  • Dennis Bock: Photographs of Los Alamos and an essay on the writing and researching of THE ASH GARDEN.
  • Alessandro Boffa: Read essays by the author and translator John Casey on the creation of YOU'RE AN ANIMAL, VISKOVITZ!
  • Arthur Bradford: Flash animated version of the story "Roslyn's Dog" from DOGWALKER.
  • Rick Bragg: audio: Rick reads from AVA'S MAN, presents family photos and a hand drawn map of Alabama and Georgia.
  • Fernand Braudel: Read more about the most celebrated French historian of the postwar era from the introduction to his previously unpublished manuscript.
  • Henry Bromell: His editor on his return to the printed word in LITTLE AMERICA.
  • Peter Carey: Photographs and audio commentary from the author on photos found in research for TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG.
  • Robert A. Caro: Robert A. Caro discusses Lyndon B. Johnson, Robert Moses, and the art of biography.
  • Anne Carson: Video from the performace of her opera, DECREATION.
  • Stephen L. Carter: View interviews with Professor Carter's editor and agent about the publishing of THE EMPEROR OF OCEAN PARK.
  • Lizabeth Cohen: Enter an email conversation between author, designer, and editor to learn how A CONSUMERS' REPUBLIC got its cover.
  • Rich Cohen: Friends and family of the author respond and add to the author's portrayal of them and himself in his new memoir. Read essays by Rich's dad and schoolmates with the corresponding book excerpts and see pictures of the lives touched on in LAKE EFFECT.
  • Sally Denton and Roger Morris: Essays from the authors on how they came to write THE MONEY AND THE POWER.
  • Joan Didion: Selections from a series of interviews with college newspapers around the country--Didion discusses with students the material in POLITICAL FICTIONS, the uncertain future of the American political process, and her own experiences with the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack.
  • Leonard Downie, Jr. and Robert G. Kaiser: The authors discuss two important instances when investigative newspaper journalism made a specific impact in recent years with links to the actual articles as they appeared in the Washington Post (police brutality) and the New York Times (the IRS and the Church of Scientology). On the excerpt portion of their author pages, you can read what they have to say about the internet's impact on journalism -- with links to take you directly to the sites they discuss.
  • James Ellroy: Reading from Chapter One of THE COLD SIX THOUSAND, a dramatis personae, excerpts from a documentary on Ellroy by filmmaker Vikram Jayanti: JAMES ELLROY'S FEAST OF DEATH, and a timeline including fictional "documents."
  • Brad Gooch: See photos from the author's booktour - from New York and Los Angeles.
  • Allan Gurganus: From tanning salon to family photos to fountain pen, learn all about the inspiration for and writing of THE PRACTICAL HEART, a collection of four novellas, in this "mini graphic novella"--a series of ink drawings done by the author.
  • Ethan Hawke: Check out the soundtrack to Ethan Hawke's new novel and learn about his literary and musical influences.
  • Mike Heppner: Read fragments from the text of the early version of THE EGG CODE along with a conversation via email that he had with the book's interior designer.
  • Carl Hiaasen: Carl Hiaasen's new book BASKET CASE now has a theme song--co-written by Warren Zevon and the author and performed by Warren Zevon--playing on radio stations around the country. Click here to download the single. (© Artemis Records)
  • James Houston: An account of how he came to write SNOW MOUNTAIN PASSAGE, historical images, and maps.
  • Stuart Isacoff: An audio companion to TEMPERAMENT. Readers can listen to variously tuned scales and to differences in pieces by Chopin and Bach played in both just and equal temperament.
  • Lucy Jago: A visual companion to THE NORTHERN LIGHTS--photos of the Aurora Borealis taken over the last few years during times of high solar activity from different points of the globe, with links to many more images.
  • Ann Jones: View photos taken by Ann Jones on her voyage across Africa retold in LOOKING FOR LOVEDU, along with with reminiscences about the place, the time, and the people.
  • Mary Wells Lawrence: Read excerpts from A BIG LIFE IN ADVERTISING about specific ad campaigns, and view the commercials that the campaigns generated.
  • Brad Leithauser: Early notes from the beginning of the writing of A FEW CORRECTIONS.
  • Sándor Márai: Discover how editor Carol Brown Janeway learned of and was enchanted by this important author's work, which had been hidden away for many years.
  • Valerie Martin: Readings from SALVATION accompanied by music.
  • James Merill Archive Drafts of poems, video from a reading, video tour of merrill's home in Stonington, CT.
  • Jack Miles: Jack Miles answers readers' questions about CHRIST: A CRISIS IN THE LIFE OF GOD. Plus, an original essay by the author: "War, Peace, and a Crisis in the Life of God."
  • Susan Minot: Listen to and view a flash presentation of RAPTURE--the author reads aloud as a series of snapshots circulate onscreen in reflection of the fleeting thoughts and images that pass through the minds of the man and the woman in the novel.
  • Haruki Murakami: Photos of Tokyo, an email roundtable, TRANSLATING MURAKAMI, with Murakami translators Jay Rubin and Philip Gabriel, the cover and the interior of the original Japanese edition of SPUTNIK SWEETHEART.
  • Thisbe Nissen: Tour Diary from the reading tour for THE GOOD PEOPLE OF NEW YORK.
  • Mary Beth Norton: Read the story behind IN THE DEVIL'S SNARE, in the author's own words.
  • Michael Ondaatje: Photographs taken in Sri Lanka while author was doing research for ANIL'S GHOST.
  • Orhan Pamuk: Miniature paintings mentioned in MY NAME IS RED with commentary and related quotes.
  • Jacques Pepin: Send a Jacques Pépin recipe ecard.
  • Robert Reich: Video from his New York City media day for THE FUTURE OF SUCCESS.
  • Richard Russo: Richard Russo spent a few days traveling around Maine gathering images that inspired Empire Falls or could easily be evoked by its pages. View the photographs and read his commentary.
  • Howard M. Sachar: The author discusses the setting of his study and how his book relates to that of his historian father, whose book Sufference is the Badge was published by Knopf in 1940.
  • Oliver Sacks: Take a look at the periodic table of elements and watch video of Dr. Sacks in his office discussing several of his favorite elements, such as sodium, uranium, and (of course) tungsten, and the periodic table itself. You will need Real Player to watch the video.
  • David Sibley video of David Sibley discussing the creation of THE SIBLEY GUIDE TO BIRDS.
  • Giovanna and Wanda Tornabene:Introductions from SICILIAN HOME COOKING, Mother's Day Menu, video from the authors' preparation of a Sicilian meal in New York, photos from Sicily and the Inn at Gangivecchio.
  • Laurel Thatcher Ulrich: Visit a gallery of detailed images that illustrate the rich scope of the history of cloth and craft production and its extensive impact in early America--the subject of Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's THE AGE OF HOMESPUN.
  • David Thomson: Take a 20-question trivia quiz based on facts about the stars included in THE NEW BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF FILM
  • Wendy Wasserstein: Audio recordings of essays from SHIKSA GODDESS and a brief video tour of Lincoln Center.
  • Patricia Volk: View a photo scrapbook of the people, places, and events in STUFFED, with commentary from the author.
  • Jonathan Waterman: Interactive map with photos from ARCTIC CROSSING and commentary.
  • Andrew Weil, M.D. and Rosie Daley: Send a friend a recipe e-card for Baked Spicy Tofu with Bean Thread Noodles, Corn, and Mango.
  • Edward O. Wilson: Artist Isabella Kirkland's painting "Descendant Species" graces the cover of Edward O. Wilson's THE FUTURE OF LIFE. The author and artist have worked to provide readers with an interactive version of the painting--take a look to learn more about some of the world's extinct and endangered species.
  • John Wray: Images and text kept in mind during the writing THE RIGHT HAND OF SLEEP with commentary from the author.
  • Steven Yarbrough: The author and photographer Maude Schuyler Clay discuss her photograph that appears on the jacket of VISIBILE SPIRITS and other images from Maude's book of photography of the Mississippi Delta, DELTA LAND.

  • Plus read a series of Poets on Poetry Essays by Knopf poets.


From layout to photography to the finished book, find outwhat really happened to make these books take shape:
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Knopf staff interviewed all of these authors about their books. Take a look:

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