Peace - It's Wonderful - and Twenty-Six other Stories

by William Saroyan

This book is brand new and sealed, never read or used in any way, PERFECT!!

Genres: Short Stories

Paperback

First published January 1, 1939

About the author

William Saroyan was an Armenian-American writer, renowned for his novels, plays, and short stories. He gained widespread recognition for his unique literary style, often characterized by a deep appreciation for everyday life and human resilience. His works frequently explored themes of Armenian-American immigrant experiences, particularly in his native California, and were infused with optimism, humor, and sentimentality.
Saroyan's breakthrough came with The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze (1934), a short story that established him as a major literary voice during the Great Depression. He went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1940 for The Time of Your Life, though he declined the award, and in 1943, he won an Academy Award for Best Story for The Human Comedy. His novel My Name Is Aram (1940), based on his childhood, became an international bestseller.
Though celebrated for his literary achievements, Saroyan had a tumultuous career, often struggling with financial instability due to his gambling habits and an unwillingness to compromise with Hollywood. His later works were less commercially successful, but he remained a prolific writer, publishing essays, memoirs, and plays throughout his life.
Saroyan's legacy endures through his influence on American literature, his contributions to Armenian cultural identity, and the honors bestowed upon him, including a posthumous induction into the American Theater Hall of Fame. His remains are divided between Fresno, California, and Armenia, reflecting his deep connection to both his birthplace and ancestral homeland.

Reviews

[Eric Hinkle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not his best collection of stories, but some gems in here nonetheless. This book seems a little more tossed off, like he was just writing about anything at all. Sometimes that works for him, sometimes not. If you want to read some of his early stories that aren't in the anthologies, I'd highly recommend Dear Baby and Love, Here Is My Hat, but not this one so much (although you could probably read it in a day, so no biggie either way).

This little part amused me:

He came down in ten minutes and said the dirtiest word in the language.
"What's the matter?" I said.
"Somebody stole both my guns," he said.
"Today?" I said.
"No," he said. "Two months ago. I haven't got any money to buy new guns with. Also, my girl is in love."
"With somebody else?"
"No, with me," he said. "I can't act natural any more. I've got to be nice all the time."
"You're in a hell of a mess, aren't you?"
"I guess I'll get another girl."
"Don't do it," I said. "Stick with it a while and maybe you'll fall in love too and then both of you can suffer."

[Rob Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saroyan had such a beautiful way with words. Unfortunately, these stories were overall a bit dull for my liking.