Jane Smiley: Good novelists are good eavesdroppers

Jane Smiley just completed her ambitious "Last Hundred Years" trilogy.

It kicked off with "Some Luck," which introduced readers to the Langdon family on their farm in 1920s Iowa. "Early Warning" picked up in the 1950s, charting the next Langdon generation as they navigated war and upheaval — both political and familial.

With "Golden Age," Smiley brought an end to her ten-decade chronicle, tracking more Langdon descendants through the high days of the 1980s through to climate change crises of the 21st century. Through all three novels, she built an intimate family portrait intertwined with history.

Smiley joined MPR News host Kerri Miller for the 2015 season finale of Talking Volumes, where she shared her insights about family dynamics, romance and inspiration.

The Langdon family characters came to her with ideas of their own, she said. "I felt that they existed sort of apart from me. It was more like I was sitting on a train and they were talking in my head, so I was just writing down what they had to say.

"I think this trilogy really is about feeling how history feels when it's passing through you. Sometimes it feels terrifying, sometimes it feels enjoyable and sometimes it just feels sad."

She credited her skill with dialogue and character drama to her upbringing.

"I've always been curious and a good eavesdropper," Smiley said. "I grew up in a really gossipy family, and I think that's really essential for a novelist."

To hear the full interview with Jane Smiley, use the audio player above.