Author:Virginia Woolf
'Woolf is modern ... With Joyce and Eliot she has shaped a literary century' Jeanette Winterson
Virginia Woolf tested the boundaries of fiction in these short stories, developing a new language of sensation, feeling and thought, and recreating in words the 'swarm and confusion of life'. Defying categorization, the stories range from the more traditional narrative style of 'Solid Objects' through the fragile impressionism of 'Kew Gardens' to the abstract exploration of consciousness in 'The Mark on the Wall'.
Edited with an Introduction and Notes by Sandra Kemp
Woolf is modern ... With Joyce and Eliot she has shaped a literary century
—— Jeanette Winterson , The TimesSexy and hilarious . . . There is no moment in Grand Union when we are not entertained,or doubt that we are in the company of one of our best contemporary writers.
—— GuardianSmart and bewitching, the modern world is refracted in ways that are both playful and rigorous, formally experimental and socially aware... Smith exercises her range without losing her wry, slightly cynical humour. Readers of all tastes will find something memorable in this collection
—— Publisher's WeeklyShe's already one of our best novelists and essayists, this reminds us that her short stories are right up there too
—— ObserverBewitching
—— Publisher's WeeklyThe stories in Grand Union address both eternal existential queries and decidedly contemporary concerns.
—— FTthis is a book of and for the times, sobering in its clarity but bracingly witty and clever
—— Evening StandardSmith's dialogue crackles with mordant wit . . . this dazzling collection of stories will leave you with plenty to think about.
—— IndependentEach story is a new surprise of literary genius that takes the reader on a short journey away from reality . . . A must-read for literary lovers everywhere
—— Vanity FairIn these short stories she is miles and miles ahead, moving the finish line ever further as we are dazzled, knocked sideways by her craft . . . We see a master at work, exercising her vast talent with joy and vigour, reimagining old paradigms whilst maintaining the warmth and authenticity of her inimitable voice. For a writer who has seemingly done everything, it seems that Smith is just beginning
—— The Arts DeskGrand Union seduces with language, acute observation, humour and the warmth of Smith's humanity. It's a startling, energising collection fom a writer unafraid to take risks
—— iAn exuberant volume that's bracing, thoughtful and frequently very funny
—— Mail on SundayTremendous comic writing and snappy dialogue
—— Literary ReviewSmith offers sharp social commentary in this wry collection of stories that takes on the complications of the modern world
—— PsychologiesTackles subjects including cancel culture, desire and race with Smith's trademark insight and lightness of touch
—— StylistLyrical and full of human situations acutely observed.
—— Choice magazine[A] remarkable collection of short stories exploring fragile ties between passion, love, family.
—— Western Morning NewsThis collection is the finest swan song of a writer full of sensitivity, talent and an immense grasp of the complexity of human nature.
—— The Opinionated ReaderA reminder of what a tender and perceptive writer she was.
—— Daily MailThey are stories full of humanity and compassion which witness her interest in women under stress or duress, in the horrors of war, in motherhood and in moments of joy at unexpected times. I’m very happy to have had a chance to read them.
—— Shiny New BooksNafissa Thompson-Spires has taken the best of what Toni Cade Bambara, Paul Beatty, Morgan Parker...do plus a whole lot of something we've never seen in American literature, blended it all together and given us one of the finest short story collections I've ever read. The super thin lines between terror, intimacy, humor and hubris are masterfully toed, jumped and ultimately redrawn in the most exciting and soulful fiction I've read this century. The nation needed Heads of Colored People 40 years ago. Thankfully, we Nafissa Thompson-Spires gave it to us now.
—— Kiese LaymonBy turns hilarious, charming, ingenious, and heartbreaking, Thompson-Spires’ debut is well worth checking out
—— LitHubWhat a true pleasure it is to spend time with this alive mind thinking so openly and interestingly on the page about character and culture and storytelling and one’s everchanging role in it all. This book made me laugh many times, and I also sometimes stopped midpage to read a paragraph aloud just to relish how Thompson-Spires was moving her story along. A marvel of a debut
—— Aimee Bender, author of The Particular Sadness of Lemon CakeDarkly humorous and incredibly moving, "Heads of the Colored People" is a wonderful collection of short stories ... The book couldn't be more timely — and even the stories that seem light-hearted on the surface are, at their center, incredibly intelligent reflections on race, identity, and blackness. Nafissa Thompson-Spires has written a masterpiece.
—— Gina Mei , Shondaland.comThis is one of the best short story debuts I’ve read in my whole life. It’s that simple. Nafissa Thompson-Spires is the real deal. Straight up, no hyperbole. Read a couple pages and recognize
—— Mat Johnson, author of Loving DayClever, cruel, hilarious, heartbreaking, and at times simply ingenious
—— Gabrielle Bellot , Los Angeles Review of BooksA dazzling mix of dark, funny and wicked stories about black identity in the so-called post-racial era. Reminiscent of the catchy intelligence of Paul Beatty...this debut audaciously tackles race and identity politics
—— Chicago Review of BooksStuffed with invention… Thompson-Spires proves herself a trenchant humorist with an eye for social nuance
—— Publishers WeeklyNafissa Thompson-Spires’ stories fearlessly tackle broad issues of race, identity politics, and the body, while never losing sight of the intricately-faceted individuals inhabiting those bodies. She writes with a precision of psychological insight that is both moving and profound. Dignified, controlled, and, above all, original: Thompson-Spires is an important new voice in contemporary fiction
—— Jamie Quatro, author Fire Sermon[A] dazzling collection... Transgressive and wildly funny, Heads of the Colored People announces a major new talent
—— Ms. MagazineTremendous... One of the best books of the year... a breakthrough in literary fiction
—— Christopher Borrelli , Chicago TribuneWith devastating insight and remarkable style, Nafissa Thompson-Spires explores what it means to come to terms with one’s body, one’s family, one’s future. The eleven vignettes in Heads of the Colored People elevate the unusual and expose the unseen, forming an original—and urgent—portrait of American life
—— Allegra Hyde, author of Of This New WorldThis short story collection is filled with characters that will your win your heart in a matter of words. This book is a must-read
—— Melissa Ragsdale , BustleNafissa Thompson-Spires has a way of staring intense, awkward, comic, and sorrowful situations right in the face. There's no escaping her honest gaze. Heads of the Colored People is a necessary and powerful new collection with, thankfully, not a dull sentence to be found
—— Peter Orner, author of Am I Alone HereFrom petty classroom moms to a young girl who is contemplating taking her own life, these stories are deep and touching. We promise you’ll fall in love with this book, just like we did
—— She ReadsThis collection resonates on many frequencies. There are direct links between characters in several of the stories, many of whom are foils for each other, and their nuances are sure to strike a chord with any reader who’s struggled with insecurity and a search for self… Thompson-Spires writes with grace, a lightly bitter humor, and a real eye for a detail that calls attention to the simultaneous reality and fictionality of each story… A profound and truly enjoyable collection
—— Anna Meyer , The RiveterBubbly and sardonic, full of sly twists and dramatic reveals
—— Allison Noelle Conner , The RumpusA bold new voice, at once insolently sardonic ... Thompson-Spires flashes fearsome gifts for quirky characterisation, irony-laden repartee and edgy humour
—— Kirkus Reviews[An] impressive debut collection… [Nafissa Thompson-Spires’] electric style is extrovert, erudite and hugely entertaining… [an] unmistakable talent
—— Anthony Cummins , ObserverA fresh take on what it means to be black in today’s America
—— StylistFuriously contemporary, Heads of the Colored People feels like a bulletin from the world delivered in the last couple of seconds
—— BookmunchSuperb… This is a firecracker of a book, sizzling with politics, but it’s also a triumph of storytelling: intelligent, acerbic and ingenious
—— Lucy Scholes , Financial TimesCharacters’ observations are delivered with clarity and precision; their responses to tragic situations are often filled with humour… [Heads of the Colored People] explore the internal and external tensions of moving through life in a body of colour
—— Luie Elliott , Times Literary Supplement