Essays discussion

what anthologies do you recommend, and why?

My favorite so far is [The Next American Essay], edited by John D'Agata. There were some really interesting pieces in there. As someone who has like essays and short fiction for a while, but not explored much, I think this book introduced me to several new authors, such as John McPhee (The Search for Marvin Gardens is AMAZING).

Well, I'll be danged. I'd been thinking of creating a group on the essay, and lo and behold, some wise readers have already done so. I applaud your efforts, and am pleased to join readers with such great taste. Despite its venerable tradition, the essay needs all the promotion it can get.

As for The Next American Essay, I would enthusiastically endorse Kelly's selection. D'Agata has been the driving force behind the "lyric essay," and while all the selections in this anthology might not quite fit that sub genre, it still provides an excellent range of pieces that show the breadth and of the essay as its being practiced today.

I would recommend The Art of the Personal Essay, edited by Philip Lopate. It offers an excellent historical and geographical survey, from Seneca to Richard Rodriguez. In addition to the "usual suspects" one would expect to find in such an anthology -- Hazlitt, Woolf, Orwell, Thoreau, White, Didion, et al -- it also includes many lesser known but no less excellent pieces, such as Turgenev's "The Execution of Tropmann," Tanazaki's "In Praise of Shadows," Benjamin's "Hashish in Marseille," and contemporary writers I had not heard of, such as Seymour Krim and Gayle Pemberton.

This anthology is a welcome reminder that personal essay has very long and rich tradition that will outlast any number of James Frey's that happen to stumble in and out of hearing.