All Stories Are True [Paperback]

John Edgar Wideman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 10, 1993

Set mainly in the Pittsburgh district of Homewood, these 10 stories depict African Americans from all walks of life--ancestors, family, and lovers caught in the vortex of American history and haunted by their own particular demons. "(Wideman is) one of our very finest writers, period."--New Republic.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the 35 stories collected here Wideman continues to chronicle the black experience in urban America with great intensity and lyricism.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

All stories may indeed be true, but some are truer than others, as in this outstanding collection. In each story a different voice reveals another dimension--often an intimate, psychological dimension--of life in black America. "Voices are what we must listen to," says one of Wideman's characters, "if we wish ever to be heard." The character speaking is a newborn infant who has been murdered by its teenage mother, indicating the range of Wideman's voices, each of which is scored like a piece of music, for in Wideman's monologs the how is inseparable from the what . He is fortunate that actor Clifton Davis narrates those voices with such consummate skill, never missing the humor behind the pathos, ably feeling his way into the music of Wideman's prose. Not every story is successful--ironically, an account of a trip to Africa fails precisely because it forces the same style that fits the rest of the book so naturally--but these are minor flaws in a major achievement. Although not yet as famous as some of his contemporaries, Wideman's tremendous linguistic talent, driven by a keen sense of justice, a penetrating intelligence, and a courageous imagination, is sure to earn him a prominent place in the cultural history of our time. Highly recommended.
- Peter Josyph, New York
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Vintage; Vintage Contemporaries ed edition (August 10, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679737529
• ISBN-13: 978-0679737520
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,926,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

JOHN EDGAR WIDEMAN is the author of more than twenty works of fiction and nonfiction, including the award-winning Brothers and Keepers, Philadelphia Fire, and most recently the story collection God's Gym. He is the recipient of two PEN/ Faulkner Awards and has been nominated for the National Book Award. He teaches at Brown University.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth Owning, August 25, 2007

By 

Okla Elliott (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All Stories Are True (Paperback)

The best stories in this collection are simply amazing, but there are some that leave the reader a little cold (though isn't that the case with every short story collection?). All in all, it is worth the purchase. And Wideman is one of the most imporant contemporary authors and therefore merits reading just to know what's going on in literature these days.

[Side Note: I had the good fortune of doing a workshop with Mr Wideman, and he is also a wonderful human being--kind, funny, intelligent--so you can rest assured that your money is going to a good place.]

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars thumbs down, May 29, 2009

By 

SMack (Culver City, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All Stories Are True (Audio Cassette)

I was disappointed in this collection and just want to warn anyone else considering it--especially Clifton Davis fans, DON'T do it!