The stories in this collection were written between 1937 and 1954, many of them influenced by Ellison's friend Richard Wright. In theme, some parallel stories were written by Wright and published in volumes such as Uncle Tom's Children (1938; see separate entry); yet Wright's stories seem to reflect a more bitter view of American society. These differences in tone may be explained by the two writers' differences in age, geographical background, intended audience, and rhetorical purpose. Nevertheless, while several were published in magazines of that era, others were filed away in a leather folder until Mrs. Ellison showed them to John F. Callahan after her husband's death. Callahan explains that Ellison repeatedly mentioned his intention to publish a short story collection. Readers may profitably consider why Ellison had not issued such a collection and what changes he might have made in the volume's overall content. These stories reflect Ellison's...