John Dufresne's novels reflect the postmodernist themes apparent in American society at the end of the twentieth century. His works present an interesting mixture of sociological determinism combined with a distinctly regional flavor. At the same time, Dufresne's novels provide dramatic contrasts between dream-like postmodernism and the Southern literary tradition. He reconciles these contrasts through vivid descriptions of time and place, tying his characters to these elements to create worlds that are at once surreal and personally identifiable.

Born on 30 January 1948, John Dufresne was the oldest of four children of French-Canadian parents in the working-class Grafton Hill neighborhood of Worcester, Massachusetts. His upbringing was blue-collar Catholic. The foundation of his narrative craft was formed in his family home, where storytelling was a way of life--particularly at mealtimes, when stories and gossip about friends and relatives were regularly traded: "Like Uncle George, who claimed to be pals with all...