Paperback, 242 pages
English language
Published May 10, 1983 by Wampeter Press.
Toby Wolff’s Matters of Life and Death was a hugely influential anthology in the early 80s, when America was just turning away from the fabulism of the 60s and 70s, writers like Barth and Barthelme, and towards a renewed commitment to naturalism. As such, it has all of the central figures in that movement and it also has some of the very best stories by those people – people like Raymond Carver, Richard Ford, Joy Williams and Mary Robison. It also has wonderful stories by John Gardner, Barry Hannah, Ron Hansen and Leonard Michaels. Much more than most anthologies, it’s a snapshot of the very best storywriters of an entire decade.
Absolute goldmine of short fiction that captures the stark, honest, realism of the late 70's early 80's. A must for fans of Raymond Carver. Highlights for me are David Quammen's "Walking Out" and Jayne Ann Phillips's "Home" but most every story in this collection offered some beautiful gut punch.
