Living on the Edge contains seventeen remarkable stories by writers who served in the Peace Corps, including well-known authors such as John Coyne, John Givens, Norman Rush and Paul Theroux, as well as work by exciting emerging authors like Mark Jacobs and Marnie Mueller. All these stories reflect the impact the Peace Corps experience had on former volunteers who write across cultures in the literary tradition of Joseph Conrad, E.M. Forster, and Paul Bowles. Each author has included a commentary on how he or she came to write the anthologized story.
When I picked up this book for the first time, I couldn't understand why the stories were fiction, because it seemed to me that the writer's adventures would be adequate for non-fiction. But, as I read the book, I quickly realized why. Most of the stories seemed to contain only a few fiction portions, and they have probably been changed to protect the characters. These stories have been written by many famous authors who started their writing careers while serving their country in the Peace Corps. They are very diverse, and many tell the often tragic tale of what can happen when different cultures meet. The story about how the Peace Corp was saved in Guatemala is one of the most entertaining stories that I have ever read. Dancing on the Edge of an Endangered Planet
An enjoyable read
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
I liked the content. I liked the varying styles. It's a good read.
REVIEW QUOTES
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
"...fascinating, well-written, beautifully crafted anthology." --MultiCultural Review"In these beautifully crafted stories what they write will not only take you to faraway places, but will give you a glimpse of the American Peace Corps' submersion into a variety of different cultures." --Orlando Sentinel"LIVING ON THE EDGE is...a fine collection of fiction from intelligent, imaginative writers--and there's not a 'clunker' in the bunch." --San Antonio Express-News"...exquisite, one-of-a-kind gems..." --American Book Review
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