`To a short story lover it is hard to think of a book that could give more pleasure.' Scotland on Sunday`This is a splendid volume of short stories which reflect the wealth of brilliance built up over the years by a wide ranging field of American writers. Joyce Carol Oates has done an outstanding job in making this selection ... She does not always go for the well known stories but delights us with some that have remained somewhat obscure.' Yorkshire Gazette & Herald'consistently good collection ... Joyce Carol Oates, has put together a powerful anthology spanning 173 years' Martyn Bedford, The Oxford Times'A pleasant surprise awaits. About half are entirely readable and some are very affecting.' Carla McKay, The Daily Mail'instead of settling for widely anthologised work, she has chosen rarer pieces that she feels are more representative of their authors ... They form a broad spectrum of idiosyncratic voices that together reflect 56 different perspectives of the American experience.' Christie Hickman, Midweek'anthologies continue to thrive and this is an excellent example, chosen by one of the leading living practitioners' Observer'this is a meaty, widespreading anthology and good value at the price' Brian Fallon, Irish Times