Going the Distance: The Life and Works of W.P. Kinsella (William Steele) - a podcast by Rob Mellon

William Steele discusses his amazing biography of famed writer W.P. Kinsella who was the author of Shoeless Joe which was the basis for the classic baseball movie Field of Dreams.  Steele talks about how he initially got interested in Kinsella and how that eventually became years of work, research and study.  He describes the early years of Bill Kinsella growing up in a remote part of Canada and his eventual move to Iowa to study at the University of Iowa.  He explains why Kinsella did not start writing until his early 40s and how he eventually made writing a career.  He breaks down Kinsella's work which is in two main categories: First Nation people of Canada and baseball.  Steele discusses the magic of the study of baseball and how that can help us learn more about race, politics, religion and society in general.  He talks about Kinsella's masterpiece Shoeless Joe and how that became a national phenomenon.  He explains Kinsella's view of religion and academia.  He finishes with the story of the end of W.P. Kinsella's life and how he research continues.

HOST:  Rob Mellon

FEATURED BREW:  Slingshot Dunkel Dark Lager, Backpocket Brewing Company, Coralville, Iowa

BOOK:  Going the Distance: The Life and Works of W.P. Kinsella
https://www.amazon.com/Going-Distance-Life-Works-Kinsella/dp/177162194X

MUSIC:  Bones Fork

MOVIE CLIPS:  Field of Dreams, Universal Pictures, 1989 and Bull Durham, Orion Pictures, 1988

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