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Published Jan 2009
336 pages
Genre: Short Stories
Publication Information
Introducing the first volume in an exciting new annual anthology featuring the year's most outstanding fiction by some of today's finest African American writers.
From stories that depict black life in times gone by to those that address contemporary issues, this inaugural volume gathers the very best recent African American fiction. Created during a period of electrifying political dialogue and cultural, social, and economic change that is sure to captivate the imaginations of writers and readers for years to come, these short stories and novel excerpts explore a rich variety of subjects. But most of all, they represent exceptional artistry.
Here you’ll find work by both established names and up-and-comers, ranging from Edward P. Jones, Walter Dean Myers, and Stephen L. Carter to ZZ Packer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Mat Johnson, and Junot Díaz. They write about subjects as diverse as the complexities of black middle-class life and the challenges of interracial relationships, a modern-day lynching in the South and a young musician’s coming-of-age during the Harlem Renaissance. What unites these stories, whether set in suburbia and "the heart of whiteness," in eighteenth-century New York City, or on a Caribbean island that is supposed to be "brown skin paradise," is their creators' passionate engagement with matters of the human heart.
Masterful and engaging, this first volume of Best African American Fiction features stories you’ll want to savor, share, and return to again and again.
"Starred Review. With something for every reader's taste, this is a collection not to be missed." - Publishers Weekly.
"A treasure trove of discovery…Readers across racial lines will find reason for delight in this debut of what is intended as an annual series." - Kirkus Reviews.
"This engaging collection…shows the incredible range of talent and focus of fiction written by African Americans." - Booklist.
"African American fiction has come a long way from the days of Richard Wright and Ralph Ellison, and its wealth and variety are recognized in this first in an annual series." - Library Journal.
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