An anthology of never-before-published short essays by America's literary greats. Each October at the PEN Gala, well-known authors take the stage of the Folger Shakespeare Library's Theatre to ponder the meaning of such universal mysteries as "obsession," "illusion," "first love," and more. Each author is given only three minutes or less to speak. The results have been unpredictable--clever, confessional, inspiring, hilarious, profound, and all of them entertaining. These essays have been transcribed for the first time, and comprise this unique anthology. Among the authors are: Russell Banks, T. Coraghessan Boyle, Annie Dillard, Gail Godwin, Allan Gurganus, Jane Hamilton, Alice Hoffman, Susan Isaacs, Charles Johnson, William Kennedy, Chang-rae Lee, Larry McMurtry, Sue Miller, Joyce Carol Oates, George Plimpton, Francine Prose, Maurice Sendak, Anita Shreve, Jane Smiley, William Styron, Deborah Tannen, John Edgar Wideman. ThePEN/Faulkner Foundationconfers an annual national prize for the best work of fiction by an American author and brings literary programs of quality to the citizens of the Washington metropolitan area. Each October at the PEN/Faulkner Gala, well-known authors take the stage of the Folger Shakespeare Library's Elizabethan Theatre to ponder the meaning of such universal mysteries as "Obsession," "Illusion," "First love," "Heroes," and more. Each author is given only three minutes or less to speak. The results have been unpredictable: clever, confessional, inspiring, hilarious, profound, and all of them entertaining. Over a hundred and fifty of these essays have been collected to create this unique anthology. Pete Hamill, Alice McDermott, John Edgar Wideman, Annie Dillard, William Kennedy, Joyce Carol Oates, Larry McMurtry, Susan Isaacs, and Maurice Sendak are among the numerous authors included in this diverse and diverting book of never-before-collected brief essays and very short stories. "I read most of this in one sitting, an experience akin to racing through an art museum in an afternoon. Ambitiously wrestling with life's great joys and sadness, these poignant and illuminating lessons should be, like fine art, appreciated deliberately and pensively."John Sherer, Olsson's Books & Records