Short Story Writers and Their Works: A Guide to the Best

Brad Hooper, on the staff of the ""Booklist"" magazine, brings the reader his insight on short story writers he holds esteem. The brief, biographical essays, usually no longer than a well-developed paragraph, focus on over 100 contemporary writers and masters of the past. The accomplished writers highlighted here are from various ethnic groups, of both genders, and are of interest to a diverse audience. The succinct entry for each author describes writing style, subject matter, settings, common themes, and critical opinion on the author's work. Citations are given to one or two examples of the author's best work. This second edition enhances coverage of the best writers by including those who have grown artistically since the first edition, such writers as Alice Walker, John Edgar Wideman, or Sandra Cisneros and by including writers whose work the author has reevaluated, such as Julio Cortazar, James Baldwin, and Paul Bowles. Another feature of this edition is the index by nationality of author to help the many readers who approach literature from a national or cultural perspective. The book may serve as a useful readers' advisory tool for patrons wishing to explore short story literature as well as a collection, and as a critical guide in classes on the short story.…