Grace Paley Summary

Paley, Grace (1922—) With the publication in 1959 of the first of three short story collections, The Little Disturbances of Man: Stories of Women and Men at Love, Grace Paley, at the age of 37,... Read more

The American writer Grace Paley (born 1922) is best known for her three collections of short stories, The Little Disturbances of Man (1959), Enormous Changes at the Last Minute (1974), and Later the S... Read more

Few other fiction writers in late twentieth-century American letters have had so great an influence as Grace Paley on the basis of so few books in a lifetime of work. Even fewer fiction writers--one t... Read more

In the following interview, Paley comments on her upbringing, her fiction, the rewards of parenthood, and the value of community participation and political action. Grace Paley has been a respected na... Read more

In the following review, Shaw offers a positive assessment of Paley's verse in Leaning Forward, but notes that Paley's fiction is more accomplished. I doubt that Grace Paley’s rep... Read more

In the following essay, Wilde argues that Paley's fiction is neither realist nor strictly metafictional. According to Wilde, Paley's “midfictional” style embodies elements ... Read more

In the following essay, Aarons examines the importance of personal storytelling and oral narrative in Paley's fiction, noting its relationship to Jewish literary tradition. Aarons contends that... Read more

In the following essay, Taylor discusses cultural stereotypes about women and humor, and examines the use of comic wit in Paley's fiction. Taylor contends that Paley's subversive humor&#... Read more

In the following excerpted review, Dame offers a positive assessment of Long Walks and Intimate Talks. It is refreshing, in these days of mean-spirited attacks on “political correctness,”... Read more

The following interview was conducted by three Paris Review writers. Paley discusses her early transformation as a writer, her fictional style, major influences, personal motivations, and the central ... Read more

In the following review of The Collected Stories, Eder offers a positive assessment of Paley's fiction, but notes that the collection contains several unexceptional pieces. Anger does for Grace... Read more

In the following review, Baxter offers a positive evaluation of The Collected Stories. Grace Paley’s stories have achieved something of a cult or classic status, and with good reason. Since the... Read more

In the following excerpt, Gornick recounts her introduction to and admiration for Paley's fiction, and reviews The Collected Stories. I remember the first time I laid eyes on a Paley sentence. ... Read more

Interview by Grace Paley with Birgit Fromkorth and Susanne Opfermann “Grace Paley,” in American Contradictions: Interviews with Nine American Writers, edited by Wolfgang Binder and Helmb... Read more

In the following interview, Paley discusses her family and formative influences, and her career as a writer and activist. It’s August 6 in Thetford Hill, Vermont, and before the sun has dried t... Read more

In the following review of Just As I Thought, Leonard praises Paley's life, activism, and moral conviction. Never mind how wonderful it is that Grace Paley should have imagined an alter ego nam... Read more

In the following negative review of Just As I Thought, Wolfe condemns Paley's “stubborn” activism as hypocritical, dishonest, and, at worst, immoral. As Wolfe concludes, “P... Read more

In the following essay, Newman elucidates Grace Paley's anti-Vietnam politics and discusses the impact of her political views on her short fiction. I object not to facts but to people sitting i... Read more