Touchstone Anthology of Contemporary Creative Nonfiction: Work from 1970 to the Present

From memoir to journalism, personal essays to cultural criticism - this unique, indispensable anthology brings together fifty unforgettable works from all genres of creative nonfiction. Selected by five hundred writers, English professors, and creative writing teachers from across the country, this collection includes only the most highly regarded nonfiction work published since 1970. Contents: The fourth state of matter by Jo Ann Beard Getting along with nature by Wendell Berry The pain scale by Eula Biss The unwanted child by Mary Clearman Blew Torch song by Charles Bowden Embalming Mom by Janet Burroway Physical evidence by Kelly Grey Carlisle The glass essay by Anne Carson Burl's by Bernard Cooper Visitor by Michael W. Cox Living like weasels by Annie Dillard Return to sender by Mark Doty Leap by Brian Doyle Somehow form a family by Tony Earley Kissing by Anthony Farrington The beautiful city of Tirzah by Harrison Candelaria Fletcher Sun dance by Diane Glancy Mirrorings by Lucy Grealy Present tense Africa by William Harrison Reading history to my mother by Robin Hemley World on a hilltop by Adam Hochschild A small place by Jamaica Kincaid High tide in Tucson by Barbara Kingsolver Small rooms in time by Ted Kooser The essayist is sorry for your loss by Sara Levine Mastering the art of French cooking by E. J. Levy Portrait of my body by Phillip Lopate Flight by Barry Lopez The undertaking by Thomas Lynch Sorry by Lee Martin Interstellar by Rebecca McClanahan Bad eyes by Erin McGraw The search for Marvin Gardens by John McPhee The date by Brenda Miller Son of Mr. Green Jeans by Dinty W. Moore Celibate passion by Kathleen Norris This is not who we are by Naomi Shihab Nye Autopsy report by Lia Purpura Watching the animals by Richard Rhodes Shitdiggers, mudflats, and the worm men of Maine by Bill Roorbach Repeat after me by David Sedaris Imelda by Richard Selzer The Pat Boone Fan Club by Sue William Silverman A measure of acceptance by Floyd Skloot Black swans by Lauren Slater The love of my life by Cheryl Strayed Mother tongue by Amy Tan If you knew then what I know now by Ryan Van Meter Consider the lobster by David Foster Wallace Hawk by Joy Williams View Less