This welcome addition to the Critical Companion series is divided into four parts, each of which is quite detailed. The 17-page “Biography” includes information related to O’Connor’s upbringing and education and her determination to pursue a writing career in spite of her health problems. Part 2, “Works A–Z,” discusses 2 published novels, 27 short stories, and 8 essays. Each entry for fiction begins with a synopsis of the work, followed by a critical commentary, a description of the characters, and suggestions for further reading. Each also contains cross-references to letters, summaries of which can be found in a separate section of part 2. The extensive coverage of O’Connor’s correspondence, which is collected in The Habit of Being (1979), is the most unique feature of this volume.
