Michael Silverblatt, the formidable host of KCRW’s Bookworm who was celebrated for his forensic knowledge of contemporary literature and his uniquely tender broadcasting voice, has died at the age of 73, according to latimes.com.
Silverblatt passed away at home on Saturday, February 14 following a prolonged illness, a close friend confirmed. His nationally syndicated show, which aired from 1989 to 2022, became a cultural touchstone for bibliophiles, featuring heavyweights such as Gore Vidal, Toni Morrison, David Foster Wallace, and Zadie Smith.
Known for his distinctive nasal tone, which he was once told was ill-suited for radio, Silverblatt defied critics to create one of the most significant oral archives of literary history. His interviews were famous for being so well-researched that authors were often left stunned by his insights into their own work.
Born in Brooklyn in 1952, Silverblatt’s lifelong obsession with the written word began with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. At the University at Buffalo, he studied under luminaries like Michel Foucault and J.M. Coetzee. Despite a speech impediment that made him shy in class, he viewed these authors as mentors, often approaching them privately to discuss their craft.
After a stint in Hollywood script development and public relations, a chance encounter with KCRW head Ruth Seymour changed his life. During a dinner party, the pair ignored the room to discuss Russian poetry. Impressed by his brilliance, Seymour asked: “Have you ever thought about doing radio?”
For over three decades, Silverblatt’s approach was unparalleled. He insisted on reading an author’s entire body of work before an interview. David Foster Wallace famously quipped after an appearance that he wanted Silverblatt to “adopt” him.
“Michael was a genius,” said Alan Howard, his producer of 31 years. “He was mesmerising and always brilliant. He devoted his life to the show.”
Silverblatt famously converted an entire flat adjacent to his own into a private library. Despite his mastery of the medium, he remained humble about the power of literature, once noting: “The books I love the most made it harder for me to live,” referring to the profound emotional weight of great art.
He is survived by his sister, Joan Bykofsky.
•Featured image: Michael Silverblatt, host of KCRW-FM’s Bookworm, tapes the syndicated literary show on Sept. 30, 1999, in the basement offices at Santa Monica College/Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press
