A George P. Elliott Reader

Despite a distinguished writing career, Elliott (1918-1960) has fallen into undeserved obscurity. This anthology highlights his short fiction and essays and also includes a 20-page narrative poem, which is by far the weakest link in the book. Each of the eight stories, however, is quiet, mysterious and powerful. Two follow explorers' voyages into uncharted territories inhabited by unknown peoples: ``Faq' '' has a mythic feel; its strange resonance approaches that of a Borges tale. In ``Among the Dangs'' the narrator's acceptance of Western rationality is challenged by the beliefs of an indigenous Andean tribe. Other stories take place in the America of the 1950s and '60s. Perhaps most notable among them is ``An Hour of Last Things,'' in which a quintessentially uptight WASP succumbs to an unexpected passion when she falls in love with a young female contralto. The essays are uneven--Elliott's political and literary critical views range from old-fashioned to politically incorrect--but they are almost always engaging, his prose controlled and memorable. This is an extremely rewarding reintroduction of Elliott's work to contemporary readers. (June)