The Wild Birds: Six Stories of the Port William Membership

By Wendell Berry

Book Overview

"Berry is a superb writer. His sense of what makes characters tick is extraordinary . . . Short stories don't get any better than these." --People

As part of Counterpoint's celebration of beloved American author Wendell Berry comes this reissue of his 1986 classic, The Wild Birds: Six Stories of the Port William Membership. Those stories include "Thicker Than Liquor", "Where Did They Go?", "It Wasn't Me", "The Boundary", "That Distant Land", and the titular "The Wild Birds."

Spanning more than three decades, from 1930 to 1967, these wonderful stories follow Wheeler Catlett, and reintroduce readers to the beloved people who live in Berry's fictional town of Port William, Kentucky.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1640092102
• ISBN13: 9781640092105
• Release Date: May 2019
• Publisher: Counterpoint LLC
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.9" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Wendell Berry's best collection

He has many great fiction writings but I would start with this one. Solid, clear, continuously beautiful. 'Fidelity' comes in second place but this by far is leads. Should replace lots of other nonsense in the American lit canon.

Mr. Berry creates an empathy for his characters,...

...and their sense of place, that runs through his readers like an umbilical spirit to the Earth. Making those connections in ways that move us emotionally and profoundly, from complacency to caring, about how we relate to each other, our communities, and the land that nourishes, sustains, and gives rise to this, and all life. In six finely crafted stories of character, conscience, and enduring values, the author inspires and challenges the reader to think of responsibility beyond their own mortality and how that caring strengthens and enriches their existence and gives it meaning.

Stories that lift your soul to rejoicing.

My first encounter with Berry's fiction rekindled my appreciation for this genre of writing. These stories are filled with love and emotion while conveying Berry's ideals of community and cohesiveness. They decry materialism and champion mankind. I was inspired to be a better person during this walk through the Port William Membership