Words Are My Matter: Writings About Life and Books 2000–2016

Le Guin (1929–2018) was the prolific author of more than 60 books, including novels, volumes of short stories, collections of essays, children's books, poetry, and translations. A writer who believed in the social and political necessity of the arts, she also believed in the concept of the writer as a public intellectual. She railed against the idea of books being a "production of a market economy" and was a beacon for writing as a "practice of an art." This collection of talks, essays, introductions to beloved books, and book reviews demonstrates her devotion to the lifelong study of writing and literature. It serves as a guide to contemporary fiction and a map for exploring the world whether the reader is familiar with any of her other works or not. Laural Merlington is the ideal reader for Le Guin's material. Her ability to blend gravitas and enthusiasm seamlessly mimics Le Guin's wordplay and style.