Philadelphia Fire has connections to other literature in sometimes surprising ways. Looming over the narrative is the image of Shakespeare, with whom Wideman has been compared. In this case the comparison is particularly apt because of the references in the novel to The Tempest. Wideman has the same ability to provide a panoramic view of life and to people his narrative with compelling characters.

In its strident look at racial relations, Philadelphia Fire has precedents in tracts by African Americans such as Eldridge Cleaver and Malcolm X. In the anger emanating from the novel and in its consideration of urban decay, an intriguing juxtaposition is Tunnel Vision (1994) by Sara Paretsky, whose angry heroine confronts homelessness, racism, and violence.

Wideman's unflinching look at the harsh realities of life echoes the naturalistic approaches of early American writers like Stephen Crane and Frank Norris. In Philadelphia Fire Wideman draws...