The Richard Yates Rediscovery Fiesta

I've never met anyone else in real life who has read Richard Yates, though he has a sizeable online following. A great writer and a determined drunkard, he blundered his way through mid-20th-century America, turning out wonderful novels and amazing short stories. It was a remaindered complete collection of these stories that first turned me on to his work, and I've been through most of his other books since then.

Recently there's been something of a movement to restore him to his place as one of the greats, which I heartily endorse. It also means that all of his books are being republished by Vintage Classics, using a very apt selection of 1950s-era magazine and advertising illustrations on the covers--many of Yates' characters worked in advertising or low-level journalism or similar white-collar jobs.

I often have a problem whereby some obscure writer I've hunted down and found in tatty, second-hand editions is later brought back into print. I can't justify the expense of buying the invariably more beautiful new versions when I've already got the books, but sometimes it's hard to resist. I mean, look at these beauties!

(Remember, click to enlarge.)





>Sigh<