"Native Son" was great, barring the party-line that marred the last third. "Black Boy" haunts. His existential stuff is first-rate. But.... But here is Mr. Wright's best. We find here the story of poor Fishbelly, whose father holds the highest position possible for the Mississippi oppressed at the time: undertaker. The events that overtake him strike the reader across the face as rudely as those in previous novels; the civilized are outraged. Read this in the name of liberty.

The Long Dream is one of those forgotten novels by a great writer. But it shouldn't be. It's a mature novel and deals with the reality and futility of being a black man in the Jim Crow south. I think the other reviewer describes the story well, but I just want to add some weight to the reviews for a VERY hidden classic!

Wow! What a book. The book was written so percisely that I felt that I was reading a true story. I felt that the characters were real people facing racism in the south during the 1940's. I read his first novel Native Son and loved it! I just happened across this book (The Long Dream) and decided to try it out. I'm so glad I did. Although this was a book of fiction, it was written in such a way that it made you believe that it was a true story. Fishbelly, the main character dealt with the inner struggle of hatred toward white people and people of his own race. He watched how his father bent his knees, dropped his shoulders and shuffle his feet when talking to white people. Fishbelly felt his father was coward for acting that way in front of whites, therefore, hating his father for acting so cowardly, and hating white people for having that kind of power over black people. His father tells him that "A black man's a dream, son, a dream that can't come true." Only later when Fishbelly was falsely accused of raping a white woman did he realize why his father behaved the way he did. The plot thickens at the turning of each page. This book is well worth taking the time to read, you won't regret it.

This book is a must have if you're unfamiliar with the Louisiana area. The book allowed us to better plan our trip and make the most of our time to get in all the site we read about.

We used several guidebooks to plan a long weekend in southern Louisiana in connection with a family wedding in Lafayette. This was one of the most useful of the books.

The author gives a short 1 or 2-page pithy description of each excursion along with good directions.

Slightly more useful (to us) as a guidebook was Cajun Country Guide by Macon Fry and Julie Posner. I say this because that book also covers lodging (we were traveling overnight).

Two final notes: Neither guidebook covers the city of New Orleans itself; and every guidebook we read had the wrong area codes for many telephone numbers (Louisiana has 2 brand-new area codes -- 225 and 337)

I was able to use the information to customize an entire 1 week vacation for my family. If you like "out of the way" places and "different" things to see and do, this is the book for you. There should be a book like this for each major city in the United States.

I was haunted by the main character Margaret Cape. As a southerner reading a story set in the south, every word was believable and real to me. I don't understand why Wylene Dunbar was not heralded and made famous by this novel. She is as good a story teller as Grisham, Welty and other Mississippi authors who already have their fame! Books like Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and many by Anne Rivers Siddons came to mind when I read this intriguing tale.

This is a wonderful book, so it came as no surprise that MARGARET CAPE received this year's Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters fiction award, beating out nine other nominated books by top novelists in a state known for its writers. In his note describing Dunbar's award, Bob Summer (southern correspondent, Publishers Weekly) said that "[Dunbar's] stellar achievement is piercing the inner life of a searingly memorable woman in prose often simmering with sheer beauty."

This is a superbly crafted and intricate story of generations, social conventions, prejudices, power, gender roles, and the thin veneer of gentility in the South. But don't mistakenly believe this is just another Southern novel. Dunbar's Margaret Cape is a most unusual protagonist who follows a highly unconventional path to discover and complete her own "story." There is enough psychological brutality, love, conflict, death, sex, and legal battles in this book to satisfy most "beach book" readers, and at the same time those looking for a more "literary" work will be impressed. The unusual plot turns, surprises, and strangeness are quite plausible because Dunbar recreates a world (the context of the South, the changes in the decades from the 1920's to the 1990's, the fragility of the human mind) that allows us to accept them as real. I'd be surprised if this novel doesn't get nominated for one of the book awards

If pressed to mention a series of books I love more than all others, I would have to cite Library of America; this is not because I am a fan of stictly American literature, but because I have never seen a series so dedicated--and so good at--a mission of preserving and presenting a body of literature of such greatness in such a worthy manner. Perhaps some day there will be a Library of Russia, Library of France, Library of England, etc.

Twain is a delight and underrated by modern critics; here lies a good collection of some of his fine works. Especially good are Life on the Mississippi and Pudd'nhead Wilson, along with the indesposable Huckleberry Finn. Also contained is Tom Sawyer, which I cannot praise, but I cannot deny its position as a classic and its deservence to be included in this volume.

Once they were absolute rulers - laws made to meet their needs, unstinting respect their due, their commands obeyed without hesitation or reluctance. They are vanished today, the last of their lineage in tourist boats, unremarked, nearly unremembered. Nearly two centuries ago, the Mississippi steamboat pilot was a legendary figure. Mark Twain conveys us to that time and environment in one of his finest writings. Life On the Mississippi is a superb descriptive achievement in portraying the river scene , but also conveys vivid images of the people living on and along it. It's an outstanding example of painting with both a broad brush and enhancing with fine detail.

Beginning with a history of European "discovery" and exploration of this mighty stream, Twain moves us into his own history as a "cub" pilot. Perhaps no-one before or since has so effectively exposed what it meant to "tackle the river" in learning to safely man the wheel of a river steamer. From his first astonishment at discovering he must "get a notebook and write down" the names of all the points, landmarks, snags and "crossings" through the realization that most of that information would change before his next trip, he comes to understand that a pilot must "know the river" with full dedication. As we follow him through the process he introduces us to the river's wonders and the people it supports. He explains the ranking of pilots, steamboat captains, mates and "hands." None of his observations are boring, from the most mundane river condition to dramatic events such as boiler explosions.

Those fearing that Twain's information may be "outdated" may take heart. Much of the book views his early days on the river from the vantage point of thirty years later. He is reminiscing, but Twain's excellent style brings us with him into each memory. Our feelings readily align with his as he guides us. The latter part of the book is a collection of images of the river valley in the latter part of the 19th Century as Twain revisits the river after a long absence. The only real distinction, apart from the automobile, which did for the railroad what the latter did to the steamboat, are the statistics of agriculture and industry. His descriptions of towns, villages and cities differ little from what we might encounter duplicating his journey.

During this pilgrimage, Twain brings in numerous anecdotal episodes to further sparkle his descriptive and historical accounts. Although all are entertaining at one level or another, several stand out as representatives of Twain's inventive genius. Ritter's Narrative is among the grimmest of Twain's essays in any of his publications. It's a story of a long-term quest for vengeance with a bizarre outcome. A far lighter note is struck with the story of a sleepwalking steamboat pilot. An account of the pilots organizing a "protective association" is told with light humour, not quite obscuring the serious nature of its intent.

In all, no matter that this book's focus lies in a period stretching back nearly two centuries, the writing is vigorous enough to capture today's readers. The history is related with Twain's always lively skill, something as mundane as a sunset is imparted with his special verve. This book can be taken up repeatedly; for reminders of a lost era, for an examination of values or, the best reason of all, for a prime example of what North America's greatest writer could produce in his passion for narrative.

This is the kind of book reserved for the word "volume" and by that I mean it carries all the weight of Twain's most accessible works. All of the Library of America books carry this weight but this was one of the first and deservedly so. I'm reviewing this book not just on its contents but on its sheer style and scholarly editing, its fitness in the hand (or lap), the way it will look on your bookshelf and the 10-point Linotron Galliard printing that makes the very act of reading much easier.
Now, the contents cannot be less magnificent as the river all these writings have in common. Funny, wise and as much a part of 19th century American history as you'll find anywhere, these are great examples of the best American writing in one "volume" by one of the world's most recognized authors. No self-respecting booklover should be without it.

As a close friend of the author's grandson, I have become familiar with the town of Natchez and have a new respect and connection with my history as a Southerner. An incredible book to say the least. Pilgrimage is among one of my favorite books, and I must say that my grade at school has been caught up in the "splendor of the Old South in Natchez as a result of reading it! I believe all ages should read this extraordinary book as it stimulates the imagination of the reader.

As a frequent vsitor to Natchez I am well aware of its grandeur and mysterious intrigue. As the sister of Charleston, Memphis, and New Orleans, Natchez has become the symbol of steadfast glory in the Old South. Mrs. Collier has captured the story of the Walworth's in extensive detail. Based on the events which actually did occur in Natchez from the early 1830's to the 1920's. Thius fabulous novel expresses trully the joy, beauty, great tragedy, and majesty of the Walworths in the little rivertown of Natchez.

I loved this book about the old south and the before- and -after of the civil war. Louise Collier's personal family saga captured me and transported me back to fragrant gardens, dusty roads, magnificent mansions and a family I fell in love with. Add this to a tour of the historical homes of Natchez for a wonderful treat.

This book is a realistic and poignant account of a kind-hearted boy growing up in Mississippi. The thing I liked best was the humaneness of the characters, including thier kindness and meanness. The author stands against racism without being rhetorical. In spite of suffering, goodness prevails.

I read the book a few years ago and it still stays with me. The descriptions are compelling and the story so engrossing I couldn't put it down. I would love a sequel as well.

I met Mr. McGregor while he was signing books in the Books A Million in Tupelo, Mississippi. Although his book lacked a fancy cover and had only a slight description on the back, I purchased one. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the book - the characters stay with you - their poverty, ignorance and anger. And in the midst of all that, the protagonist, a genuinely good person, who must have emerged from the first-hand experience of the author.

After living in Mississippi for the past three years, I have been amazed at the unique culture of the area - friendly, small town, good, religious people but still so much poverty, racial division and rigid thinking. I highly recommend Tall Cotton for the insight it has given me into the Deep South of sixty years ago and the origins of this culture.

Among Faulkner's best work, The Bear is more than a simple story of the hunt for an ellusive bear. Faulkner uses the backdrop of the hunt in 19th century Mississippi to show the progress his protagonist, Ike McCaslin, makes towards the unltimate achievement of man. Faulkner was convinced of the godd that man is capable of; Ike, the typical Faulkner youth seen in other works, shows this idea in full detail.
Ike begins his hunt as a young man, growing to accept the ways of nature as taught to him by a fallen Indian chief. The connotations of a fallen race abound in the story, yet they are no more obvious than in the detailed fourth chapter. Readers are advised not to merely skim this section; it remains one of the best testaments to Faulkner's ability to create some of the most complex material of the 20th century.

Three Famous Short Novels gathers together three long and diverse works by America's greatest writer (that's my opinion, others my contest it, I will only agree to disagree). Spotted Horses is a humorous tale culled from the pages of The Hamlet, the first novel in the famous Snopes Family Trilogy. The Bear is the expanded version of the somber and mythic hunting story about the killing a legendary bear that means so much more than just that. The final story is the exciting adventure yarn Old Man and was one half of the two conjoined novellas that made up The Wild Palms (aka If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem). Although each story has more power than many writers have in their entire output, they acheive even more when woven into the wide fabric of Faulkner's far reaching, generations spanning Jefferson, Mississippi. Required reading.

If you expected Faulkner's "The Bear" to be as difficult as "Pat the Bunny" you will be deeply disappointed. High school teachers may assign it in segments to English classes, but it is at heart an adult story, with deep seams of place and poetry. In this coming of age novella, the relationship between the boy Isaac and Old Ben the bear takes place against the backdrop of threatened forest land. Faulkner's passionate writing about the value of the woods rings true for nature conservationists today. The lengthy section on Civil War ghosts and the equivocality of inheritance, often considered an intrusion within the main narrative, also rewards careful reading. As for Faulkner's infamous run-on sentences -- well, here they are on full steam ahead, and even Faulkner's machismo is forgiveable in the context of his marvellous sentences.

Faulkner is, without a doubt, one of the South's best writers, and re-reading this collection of novels after many years affirms that belief for me. He was a master of words and I wish we had more Faulkner novels to feast on. Almost no one can measure up to him!

There is nothing quantitative in this volume that you can't get in other editions of Faulkner's work; however, the Library of America copy is to be strongly commended for the clarity of its typeface, its sturdy cloth-bound hardcover, and its designed ability to *lie flat* at each page. The only fault I could find with this volume is that it would be nice to have _The Sound and the Fury_ included in a Library of America edition as well (currently, the Modern Library edition is the best that can be done). I strongly recommend this edition to the serious reader who, familiar with Faulkner, is looking for a reference copy of these works that will not deteriorate over time (did I mention acid-free paper and a cloth bookmark?). Considering the price of each of these titles in paperback, this volume's value to the casual reader speaks for itself; you, too, are advised to invest in this worthy tome.

There are many great books, but I have read only two perfect ones, "As I Lay Dying" by Faulkner and Shakespeare's "King Lear." Lear's "howl" after Cordelia's death is (I think) the high point of English literature and Vardeman's internal dialoge (and chapter heading "My Mother is a Fish") is the purest form of writing expression and the high-water mark of American Literature. If you like to read, there are so many subtle threads that run through "As I Lay Dying." You'll recognize Chaucer, T.S.Eliot, and I think Shakespeare's "Lear." Like Gorky, Faulkner uses common people to expound upon universal themes like betrayal and unrequited love, but he does it better, and looks at it harder, than anyone has before or since.

I have been a long-time lover of Mark Twain's books. And being analytical, I want to know why something is written the way it is; I want to know the historical details behind his expression. So when I find that the Mark Twain Library has published Huckleberry Finn the way Mark Tain wanted it (unlike every edition that's ever been published, including the first!), I had to get it. Using all the explanatory notes--which are NOT cumbersome--and the glossary, and other notes about the text, I came away knowing that this book was truly what it is proclaimed to be: the best American novel ever written.

Having read just about all one can get their hands on by Mark Twain, this shed all new light on what Mark Twain was really saying when I read Huck Finn this time. The humour was more obvious, the sarcasm was more justified. The book itself opens up this door, but it helps to know what was in Mark's brain throughout his writing career.

Truly a must have for anyone into Mark Twain. I have purchased all that the MTL has put forth so far, and put my other editions in the yard sale box as errant texted that no longer interest me. I think any fan of Mark Twain will be tempted to do the same. Why read errant editions when one can have the author's intended, authoritative publication--with the original neat pixtures, too. I was so taken by this last reading of H. Finn that I've taken to memorizing some of the glossary terms. They are truly classic; bring'm back.

I am reminded of E. A. Poe's expectation that his works be published only as originally intended. This should not need to be requested by any author. To modify an author's writings for any reason is a type of sacrilege. Of course, even Poe's books are published different than he wanted. But thankfully, there are publishers who seek to restore the only versions worthy of publication. The Mark Twain Library is doing this, and any wanta-be authority in Mark Twain will never be such with "Penguins" and other bird-brained mass-market editions sitting on the shelf, or rather, in their hands.

There are many reasons to read "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" --

1. It is a great American classic novel
2. It documents a period in history from the common-man's viewpoint.
3. It is banned by some libraries and schools (a must-read, therefore on my list always!)
4. It can teach you to write.
5. It's a great adventure story that can be read aloud to groups, or enjoyed by yourself!

The Fischer et al. edition attempts to reconstruct "Huck Finn" in the way Twain probably intended. In particular, there is a section showing how Twain revised the "Sunrise on the River" passage to perfectly reproduce the sound of English as spoken by Huck --so reading this is almost as if we are listening to a tape recording of Huck talking. If you are unsure about "Huck Finn", turn to the Sunrise passage and read it aloud. Then tell me you AREN'T an admirer of this novel.

As a lesson for writers, Twain's search to perfect his craft and reproduce the very sound of his characters, along with a splendid use of language and an ability to create adventuresome plot are unparalleled in American literature. Banned? Are you people NUTS? This is possibly one of the greatest American books ever written.

A MUST-READ if you love American literature, or really English language literature in general.

My favorite characters in the book were Tom Sawyer, Becky Thatcher, and Huck Finn. They made the book very interesting. This is why I think they make the book very interesting: Huck Finn is an orphan and sleeps in hogsheds and on doorsteps, Tom Sawyer is always on the lookout for adventure, and Becky comes with Tom on all of his adventures.What else was interesting about the book is because Injun Joe murdered someone and accused someone else for doing it. I cannot tell you any more because you have to figure out what happens next by reading the book!!!

This book was so good and intesting that I read it over and over again.