A Manner Of Being

What do the punk singer Henry Rollins, the Guatemalan writer Rodrigo Rey Rosa, the American authors Tobias Wolff, Tayari Jones, and George Saunders, the Canadian writer Sheila Heti, and the Russian poet Polina Barskova have in common? At some point they all studied the art of writing deeply with someone. The nearly seventy short essays in A Manner of Being, by some of the best contemporary writers from around the world, pay homage to mentors--the writers, teachers, nannies, and sages--who enlighten, push, encourage, and sometimes hurt, fail, and limit their protégés. There are mentors encountered in the schoolhouse and on farms, in NYC and in MFA programs; mentors who show up exactly when needed, offering comfort, a steadying hand, a commiseration, a dose of tough love. This collection is rich with anecdotes from the heartfelt to the salacious, gems of writing advice, and guidance for how to live the writing life in a world that all too often doesn't care whether you write or not. Each contribution is intimate and distinct--yet a common theme is that mentors model a manner of being. Selections include: Arthur Flowers on John O'Killens James Franco on Harmony Korine Mary Gaitskill on an Ann Arbor bookstore owner Noy Holland and Sam Lipsyte on Gordon Lish Tayari Jones on Ron Carlson Henry Rollins on Hubert Selby Jr. Rodrigo Rey Rosa on Paul Bowles George Saunders on Douglas Unger and Tobias Wolff Christine Schutt on Elizabeth Hardwick Tobias Wolff on John L'Heureux . . . and many more

"A treatise on the culture of the tobacco plant with how it is usually cured" is a Victorian-era book on tobacco cultivation and the use of the plant as a cure. The book reviews the history of tobacco discovery and its export to Britain by Sir Walter Raleigh, provides a naturalistic description of the plant and gives details on the medical usage of tobacco products.

Two young sisters, Verity and Gabrielle Pryce, and their cousin Emma, embark on an incredible adventure when they come across a mysterious door that leads them into a different century. When they pass through the door for the first time, they encounter a Victorian workman whose life hangs in the balance; can they save him with modern medicines? This is the first of several encounters with the Griffiths family; and each time they return through the door, many years have passed on the Victorian side. With each of their adventures, their very presence and actions could change history; and all the while their relationship with the Griffiths family strengthens, until it ultimately and profoundly affects the lives of the girls and their family in 1999. This is an exciting and intriguing story, where fact and fiction intertwine.

Experience the powerful prose and poetry of Joyce Rupp with the beautiful full-color art of Mary Southard.