Stephen Wright

The Amalgamation Polka

(Knopf)

Stephen Wright has written a Civil War novel and has mastered all the prose styles of classic American literature (Melville, Twain, Stowe, et al). Here, we explore the profusion of voices and attitudes that characterized pre-PC. America: abolitionists, freed slaves, plantation masters, snake-oil salesmen, con men, ministers and utopians. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a democratic culture in which every shade of opinion has a voice and should be heard.

Read an excerpt from The Amalgamation Polka.

.