Over several decades, Edith Pearlman has staked her claim as one of the all-time great practitioners of the short story. Her incomparable vision, consummate skill and big-hearted spirit have earned her comparisons to Anton Chekhov, John Updike, Alice Munro, Grace Paley and Frank O'Connor. Her latest work, gathered in this collection of 20 new stories, is an occasion for celebration. Pearlman writes with warmth about the predicaments of being human.