Lee Smith, one of today's finest writers in the Southern literary tradition, has been compared to Eudora Welty and Flannery O'Connor. This collection of nine stories, ranging from poignant ballads to delightfully inventive forms, showcases Smith's celebrated talent. The stories will make you chuckle and leave you with a satisfying sense that no matter how unruly or warped life may seem, equilibrium can be found after all. With each story you will meet wonderful, vivid characters from towns throughout the South. Smith's knack for mannerisms and voices makes you feel these are real people whom you have known for years. And as their sometimes bizarre behavior becomes understandable, you will learn the secrets of their hearts. Narrators Linda Stephens and Tom Stechschulte add to the Southern ambiance by providing just the right voices for Smith's menagerie of colorful characters. Their skilled performances let you fully enjoy the gentle humor and pathos that season these stories.