Program 755: Soldier Poets of WWI; Village Turkey

Historian, novelist, and legendary editor Michael Korda invites us to look back on World War I through the eyes of its soldier poets, whose works — often composed in the trenches — offer an unusually personal and uncensored perspective on the horrors of "the war to end all wars." And a Turkish tour guide takes listener calls while offering advice for finding a friendly welcome in the rural villages of Turkey, where the main attraction might just be…you.

• Michael Korda, author of "Muse of Fire: World War I as Seen Through the Lives of the Soldier Poets" (Liveright)
• Lale Sürmen Aran, tour guide/operator from Istanbul

• Michael Korda is editor-in-chief emeritus at Simon & Schuster and has written 20 books to date. His latest title is "Muse of Fire: World War I as Seen Through the Lives of the Soldier Poets."
• The Imperial War Museums in London come highly recommended by both Rick and Michael.
• Rick spoke with Mark D. Van Ells, author of "America and WWI: A Traveler's Guide," about First World War sites to visit on Travel with Rick Steves program #423a in November 2018.
• Lale Sürmen Aran operates SRM Travel, which specializes in tours of Turkey and the Middle East region.
• Lale and her husband Tankut are co-authors of the Rick Steves Istanbul guidebook. They also operate a boutique hotel in Mustafapasa called Cappadocia Estates.
• Pointers for playing "tavla," the variety of backgammon played in Turkey.

Pgm #755 Haiku awards

Walking Ben Nevis
An eternal 'thin place,' near
To God, in Scots' Land

— Carla Wright, Georgetown, Kentucky

Cross Fell, Pennine Way
Needs a day of fine weather
We didn't get it.

When drinking tea
Milk always goes in last of all
As the Queen Mum did
— Ian Park, Burley-in-Wharfedale, England

No Rosetta Stone
for a Glaswegian voice
just peel the pub egg.
— Daniel Roberts, Lambertville, New Jersey