The Best of Frank O'Connor

Themostgenerousone-volumecollectioneverpublishedofshortstories，autobiographicalwritings，poetry，andessaysbythewriterYeatscalled“Ireland’sChekhov.”SelectedandarrangedthematicallybyJulianBarnes，therichmixofwritingsinTheBestofFrankO’Connorstartsoffwithhismostfamousshortstory，“GuestsoftheNation，”setduringtheIrishWarofIndependence;chronicleshischildhoodwithanalcoholicfatherandprotectivemother;andtraceshisliteraryinfluencesinbrilliantessaysonJoyceandYeats.O’Connor’swonderfullypolyphonictalesoffamily，friendship，andrivalryaresetbesidethosethatbringtolifeforgottensoulsonthefringesofsociety.O’Connor’swritingsaboutIrelandvividlyevokethelandhecalledhome，whileotherstoriesprobethehardshipsandrewardsofIrishemigration.Finally，weseeO’Connorgrappling，inbothfictionandmemoir，withthelargestquestionsofreligionandbelief.TheBestofFrankO’Connorisaliterarymonumenttoatrulygreatwriter.(BookJacketStatus：Jacketed)