Beginners

by Raymond Carver Narrated by Norman Dietz

Overview

Here is the original manuscript of Raymond Carver's seminal 1981 collection, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. Carver is one of the most celebrated short-story writers in American literature-his style is both instantly recognizable and hugely influential-and the pieces in What We Talk About . . ., which portray the gritty loves and lives of the American working class, are counted among the foundation stones of the contemporary short story. In this unedited text, we gain insight into the process of a great writer. These expansive stories illuminate the many dimensions of Carver's style, and are indispensable to our understanding of his legacy.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

One of the great short story writers of our time—of any time.” —The Philadelphia Inquirer

“Carver is a writer of astonishing compassion and honesty.... His eye is so clear, it almost breaks your heart.” —The Washington Post Book World

From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY

One of the great short story writers of our time of any time. —The Philadelphia Inquirer

FEBRUARY 2017 - AudioFile

Listeners may be familiar with Dietz’s recording of Carver’s story collection WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LOVE, and Carver fans will probably be aware of the controversy over Gordon Lish’s editing (some would say wholesale revision) of the stories in that volume. This audiobook includes all the same stories, in the same order, but in the versions (and with the titles) that Carver sent to Lish. The differences are clear—most of the stories are much longer, for one thing—but the tone is much the same. Carver's stories carry their emotion in the subtext, but Dietz seems to be looking for drama, which undercuts the author's usually flat minimalist tone. D.M.H. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170722426
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	12/15/2016
Edition description:	Unabridged

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