Spanning pages 230-269 in the anthology, and with my battle
to regain my attention span, I found this story to be a mountain to climb. In
preparation for writing about the story and researching Price, I think this is
one of those entries on this blog that will be short, revealing more of my
discovery of the author and the publication that ran the story. Having lived in
the south my whole life and knowing that Price was just a few hours away in the
next state over – both now and before we moved, I always feel a special
connection to these southern writers. This story first appeared in The Southern
Review – a perfect host. I once had a nice collection of this particular
literary journal and found that it featured stories worthy of its reputation. The
story was written in the early 90s, with its genesis springing from an encounter
Price had at a grocery store, witnessing the interactions between an
interracial couple during his adolescence (1940s?). The story shines a light on
race relations, an issue that remained and evolved from the 40s to the 90s and remains
today in the 20s. It always amazes me where authors can find inspiration. According
to my spreadsheet, Price made four appearances in BASS, but only one will be
reviewed in this project.
The Names and Faces of Heroes – 1964
Night And Day at Panacea – 1975
Broad Day – 1976
The Fare to The Moon - 1992
It has also been said that Price did not receive a great
deal of scholarly attention …less than other members of his generation, such as
John Updike, Philip Roth, Thomas Pynchon, Joyce Carol Oates, Toni Morrison,
John Barth, Sylvia Plath, Susan Sontag, Don DeLillo, and Cynthia Ozick. Admittedly,
this is the first time I’ve heard of him.
Of course, if I had made my way through my reading at a regular
pace, I might have encountered his story before his death.
Price died at the age of 77 on January 20, 2011.
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