The singular, enchanting debut story collection from Elizabeth
McCracken, now back in print as part of Ecco's "Art of the Story"
series, and with a new introduction from the author
Called "astonishingly assured" by The Guardian, the nine stories that
make up Elizabeth McCracken's debut story collection deal with oddball
characters doing their very best to forge connections with those around
them.
In "It's Bad Luck to Die" a woman marries an older tattoo artist and
finds comfort in agreeing to act as a canvas for his most elaborate
work. "Some Have Entertained Angels, Unaware" follows a young girl as
she comes face to face with a cast of eccentrics her recently-widowed
father has invited to live in their expansive but dilapidated home. And
in the title story, a young man and his wife are perplexed when an
outspoken old woman shows up on their doorstep for a visit, claiming to
be a distant aunt, even though she can't be traced on a family tree.
At once captivating and offbeat, Here's Your Hat What's Your Hurry is
a dazzling showcase of the early years of Elizabeth McCracken's
prodigious talent.