Madison Smartt Bell Summary

Effusive critical acclaim can be as debilitating as it is gratifying for young writers. Madison Smartt Bell, named by critics very early in his career as one of the best writers of his generation, has... Read more

In the positive review below, Fuller focuses on the structure of The Year of Silence. A promising but elusive young woman, admired for all the usual reasons, dies of an overdose in Manhattan. Wheth... Read more

In the review below, Solomon focuses on the detailed descriptions and realistic characters of Save Me, Joe Louis, especially "Bell's sharp insights into, and extraordinary compassion for... Read more

In the following review, Abrams offers a favorable assessment of Save Me, Joe Louis. When two guys with criminal tendencies go skidding across the country like a souped-up car with bad brakes and a... Read more

Below, Garner marvels at the erudition and literary skill of All Souls' Rising, finding that Bell's "gifts have never been more fully on display." Madison Smartt Bell&#x... Read more

In the following excerpt, Winchell focuses on Bell's role as author of The Washington Square Ensemble. The novelist starts out as God, creating a world that he knows and controls. In decidin... Read more

In the following review, DeMarinis analyzes the themes of pain and search-and-rescue in Barking Man. A collection of short stories that work well together has the effect of standing the reader in a... Read more

Below, McCarthy considers the moral progression of the stories in Barking Man, calling the collection "a splendid testament to Bell's superb narrative, stylistic gifts and passionate hum... Read more

In the following review, Donnelly admires the unreal, dreamlike narrative and atmosphere of Doctor Sleep. To say that an air of unreality hangs over a book is not usually a compliment. To say it ab... Read more