Slowly, Slowly in the Wind [Paperback]

Patricia Highsmith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 17, 2004

"Highsmith's writing is wicked . . . it puts a spell on you, after which you feel altered, even tainted."—Entertainment Weekly

With Norton's publication of Slowly, Slowly in the Wind, Patricia Highsmith's entire body of work is now back in print. First published in 1979, this volume is one of Highsmith's most nuanced and psychologically suspenseful works. Slowly, Slowly in the Wind gathers stories that explore the hypocrisies of the Catholic Church, the writing life, Poe-like horror fantasies, and more. This collection is a perfect example of Highsmith's view of human nature and a fitting capstone to the reintroduction of one of the twentieth century's greatest writers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Highsmith writes the verbal equivalent of a drug—easy to consume, darkly euphoric, totally addictive. -- Time Out New York

About the Author

Patricia Highsmith (1921-1995) was the author of more than twenty novels, including Strangers on a Train, The Price of Salt and The Talented Mr. Ripley, as well as numerous short stories.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (December 17, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393326322
• ISBN-13: 978-0393326321
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,807,880 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Patricia Highsmith (1921-1995) was the author of more than twenty novels, including Strangers on a Train, The Price of Salt and The Talented Mr. Ripley, as well as numerous short stories.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A few fine stories, others so-so, October 18, 2000

By 

Joseph W. Smith III - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slowly, Slowly in the Wind (Hardcover)

Highsmith's later work is uneven, and this collection from the 1970's is no exception. There are some truly bizarre stories -- including a sci-fi piece (not typical for her) and a dream-like fantasy called "One for the Islands" -- that simply do not work at all; and "The Pond" is a nasty, depressing tale. However, "Something You Have to Live With," "A Curious Suicide," "Those Awful Dawns" and "Woodrow Wilson's Neck-Tie" are all vintage Highsmith, and make this collection well worth acquiring. "Something" is a very thought-provoking story, and "Dawns" is simply shocking; unforgettable.

For the record, I've read a lot of Highsmith's short stories -- which poured prolifically from her pen in late career -- and the only uniformly excellent collection is "Eleven," which features first-rate early tales and is, fortunately, still in print.