Stories of Motherhood

NowjoiningEveryman’sLibrary—themostextensiveanddistinguishedcollectiblelibraryoftheworld’sgreatestworks—isanappealingnewcollectioninasmallPocketClassicsformat,perfectforgiftgivingandreadingpleasure._________________________StoriesofMotherhoodgathersmorethanacenturyofliterarycelebrationsofmothersofallages.Theseshortstoriesbyawiderangeofgreatwritersilluminatethemanyfacetsofourmostelementalhumanrelationship,frombirthtodeathandeverythinginbetween.LydiaDavisandHaroldBrodkeyexploredizzyingencountersbetweenyoungmothersandtheirnewbornbabies,whileColmTóibínandLorrieMooreportrayadultchildrengrievingfortheirlostmothers.RonCarlsonprobestheforgingofabondwithanadoptedinfant,BarbaraKingsolvergivesusasparringmother-and-daughterpairwhoseoverlappingpregnanciesleadthemtocommonground,andAimeeBenderoffersaloopyfableofmaternalconnectioninwhichawomangivesbirthtoherownmother.WillaCather,ErnestGaines,andLouiseErdrichdramatizethestrengthandsacrificesofmothersinverydifferentwalksoflife,whileAnitaDesaiandAmyTanchartthegulfofmisunderstandingandculturalchangethatcandividemothersandtheiroffspringinanytimeorplace—andthewayslovecansometimesfindtocrossit.TheseandsuchothermastersoftheshortstoryasSherwoodAnderson,HortenseCalisher,andAliceMunrowritememorablyaboutmothers—having,losing,leaving,andlovingthem—inmodesthatrangefromlyricaltosatirical,fromheartbreakingtohilarious.