Mary Gaitskill Books

Through a collection of essays, Mary Gaitskill delves into various topics including date rape, political adultery, and the cultural impact of figures like Björk and Norman Mailer. She examines the interplay between art and society, celebrating both the playful and the profound. Gaitskill's writing is characterized by its wit and deep insight, offering a tender yet incisive look at contemporary issues and the complexities of human experience. This work showcases her signature style, blending personal reflection with broader cultural commentary.

"In this searching biography of the writer's imagination, Mary Gaitskill excavates her own novels, revealing their origins and obsessions, the personal and societal pressures that formed them, and the life story hidden between their pages. Using the techniques of collage, The Devil's Treasure splices fiction together with commentary and personal history, and with the fairy tale that gives the book its title, about a little girl who ventures into Hell through a suburban trapdoor." -- Publisher's website.

'Last year I lost my cat Gattino. He was very young, at seven months barely an adolescent. He is probably dead but I don't know for certain.'

'A perfectly formed set of stories about alienation in modern times' Independent 'Mesmerizing - almost ecstatic' The New York Times Mary Gaitskill's coolly compelling, quietly devastating stories explore the messy complexity of relationships between lovers, families and friends. An unsettling encounter on a plane; a tentative affair between an older woman and a younger man; the chasm between a father and his daughter: each expresses our longing for, and our fear of, human connection.

A re-release of a National Book Award finalist debut collection by the author of Because They Wanted To follows such themes as dislocation and longing in a series of tales that reflect the experiences of a disenchanted and rebellious urban-fringe generation. Reprint.

Mary Gaitskill's tales of desire and dislocation in 1980s New York caused a sensation with their frank, caustic portrayals of men and women's inner lives. As her characters have sex, try and fail to connect, play power games and inflict myriad cruelties on each other, she skewers urban life with precision and candour. 'Stubbornly original, with a sort of rhythm and fine moments that flatten you out when you don't expect it, these stories are a pleasure to read' Alice Munro 'An air of Pinteresque menace hangs over these people's social exchanges like black funereal bunting ... Gaitskill writes with such authority, such radar-perfect detail' Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

A profound, important novel about how love and family are shaped by place, race and class.

Established in 1918 as a memorial to O. Henry, this annual literary tradition has presented a remarkable offering of stories over its seventy-seven-year history. O. Henry first-prize winners have included Dorothy Parker, William Faulkner, Truman Capote, John Cheever, John Updike, and Cynthia Ozick, as well as some lesser-known writers such as Alison Baker and Cornelia Nixon. Many talented writers who were unknown when first chosen for an O. Henry Award later went on to become seminal voices of contemporary American fiction. Representative of the very best in contemporary American fiction, these are varied, full-bodied fictional creations brimming with life--proof of the continuing strength and variety of the American short story.

Set against a backdrop of contemporary life, the novel explores the complexities of human emotions through a blend of eroticism, rage, and humor. With a compelling narrative pace and vivid metaphors, it offers a haunting exploration of the darker aspects of the soul. The story captivates with its intense themes and sharp wit, making it an unforgettable reading experience.