This volume contains some of the most memorable work, both prose and poetry, of one of the truły great American writers. There are fifteen short stories and almost as many poems, none of which have appeared in volumes of his collected works, and most of which were written during the last few years of his life.
Among the stories are those which are remarkable for their briltiance and fantastic detailing of historical events, such as "The Bishop’s Beggar" and "The Angel Was a Yankee"; others that show his tender understanding of ordinary people, such as "Good Picker" and "The Land Where There Is No Death"; and the last story he wrote, "As It Was in the Beginning."
The poetry is in two sections, the first, his relatively few poems dealing with war themes, like "Song for Three Soldiers" and the well-known "If This Should Change." The others are his mature poems to his wife and children.
When he died in 1943, Stephen Vincent Benet was at the height of his reputation as a writer and leader of opinion. His WESTERN STAR was about to be published. His new stories were eagerly awaited. His verse and radio plays were strong with faith in his country.
Mrs. Benet has selected the work in this volume from a mass of material, with a what her husband wished preserved in book form and of what he wished discarded.
Of one of his collections of short stories, the New York Times said: "What impresses one most about his stories is the sense of expectancy which they arouse after one has sampled only a few of them. It is not only that he is master of a suave and gracious style, that one can count on him unfailingly for the deftest kind of competence. As well—especially of course in his most fantastic tales—he has a fertility and ingenuity of mind which keep one perpetually wondering what he will think of next."
CONTENTS:
Introduction by Rosemary Benét
I
1. Annotated Edition (verse)
2. The Bishop's Beggar
3. The Captives
4. The Minister's Books
5. The Angel Was a Yankee
6. As it Was in the Beginning
II
7. If This Should Change (verse)
8. To the People of France (verse)
9. Song for Three Soldiers (verse)
10. Remarks from a Back-Row Seat by an Amateur Propagandist (verse)
11. Tuesday, November 5th, 1940 (verse)
III
12. The Three Fates
13. A Gentleman of Fortune
14. Famous
15. Good Picker
16. The Prodigal Children
17. This Bright Dream
IV
18. William Riley & the Fates
19. The Danger of Shadows
20. The Gold Dress
21. The Land Where There Is No Death
V
22. For Remembrance (To R.C.B.) (verse)
23. Memento Mori (verse)
24. Little Testament (verse)
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Title on jacket and title on title page are not identical.