A Permanent Member of the Family

One of America's most prestigious writers, Russell Banks is a literary icon whose works probe the deepest recesses of American life. His profound and resonant stories of the lives of ordinary Americans have appeared regularly in anthologies and collections, including <i>The Best American Short Stories.</i> Reminiscent of Don DeLillo and Raymond Carver, this collection of twelve short works showcases a master at the peak of his intuitive powers. As he did in his haunting, classic works <i>The Sweet Hereafter</i>, <i>Rule of the Bone </i>and <i>Lost Memory of Skin</i>, Banks explores provocative themes with pathos and sharp insight. Each of the stories in this powerful collection demonstrates the range of his narrative virtuosity and a startlingly panoramic vision of humanity which recalls the moral sweep of John Steinbeck's writing. <i>A Permanent Member of the Family</i> is a stunning addition to the canon of a writer 'whose great works resonate with such heart and soul' (<i>New York Times</i>).>