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Daniel Bergner's book, In the Land of Magic Soldiers, tells the stories of victims and perpetrators in Sierra Leone's brutal civil war, and the efforts to rebuild the nation. He finds a country so devastated that its people often plead for a return to British rule. Hear NPR's Melissa Block.

The Metropolitan Opera has revived La Juive, a 19th century French opera about religious persecution. Enrico Caruso once filled the lead tenor's role in the work by Jacques Fromenthal-Halevy. The new tenor star is Neil Shicoff, who speaks with NPR's Linda Wertheimer.

Critics have rarely embraced Stephen King as a serious writer. But the prolific novelist, best known for his horror stories, is about to enter some serious company. The National Book Foundation is honoring the best-selling author with a lifetime achievement award whose previous recipients have included Arthur Miller, Eudora Welty and John Updike. King discusses the award and his writing with NPR's Susan Stamberg.

Austin City Limits, the PBS music program, has presented the likes of Willie Nelson, Johnnie Cash, and Ray Charles since 1975. The show is now honored as a 2003 National Medal of Arts winner. NPR's Renee Montagne reports.

The seafaring adventure Master and Commander, starring Russell Crowe, sails into theaters Friday. Like the Patrick O'Brian novels on which it is based, the film strives for historical authenticity on every last detail, including sound effects. NPR's Michele Norris talks with sound designer Richard King.

Art Carney died Sunday at age 85; a small, private funeral service for the the popular actor was held Tuesday. Carney is most fondly remembered for playing Jackie Gleason's pal Ed Norton on The Honeymooners. He later won the 1974 Oscar for best actor in Harry and Tonto.

Thirty years after the publication of his book Cathedral, David Macaulay returns to the construction of sacred spaces with his new book Mosque. NPR's Liane Hansen joins the author for a conversation at the Islamic Center in Washington, D.C.

Director Tim Burton's new film Big Fish stars Albert Finney as a fable-making father whose stories have caused his son to doubt his every word. NPR's Bob Mondello offers a review.

France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia signed a peace accord several years ago that was never fully implemented. It may prove to be the off-ramp which will end the Ukraine crisis.

NPR's Steve Inskeep interviews Tobias Wolff, author of Old School. Set in a prep school attended by many young, would-be writers, the work raises themes of personal identity and literary integrity. It's the first full novel from the author of This Boy's Life.