Description: "This imagination of Elkin's sneaks up, tickles, surprises, shocks and kills. It makes stories that are deadly funny." The New York Times
Brief description: Stanley Elkin (1930-1995) was an award-winning author of novels, short stories, and essays. Born in the Bronx, Elkin received his BA and PhD from the University of Illinois and in 1960 became a professor of English at Washington University in St. Louis where he taught until his death. His critically acclaimed works include the National Book Critics Circle Award-winners "George Mills" (1982) and "Mrs. Ted Bliss" (1995), as well as the National Book Award finalists "The Dick Gibson Show" (1972), "Searches and Seizures "(1974), and "The MacGuffin" (1991). His book of novellas, "Van Gogh's Room at Arles", was a finalist for the PEN Faulkner Award.
Review Quotes: I've spent days reading (and rereading) these superb stories. There are indeed some giants in the English language, and I now count Elkin among them.