Critical Mass

Speaking of Chicago

By Jane Ciabattari

I’ll be wrapping up my “on the road” series this week, with Toni Morrison’s Lorrain, Ohio, August Wilson’s Hill District of Pittsburgh, and “Knockemstiff.” 

But first: Granta has a Chicago issue, due out September 22 (with a week of events in Chicago beginning September 14). (Here’s a peek at the cover by award winning graphic novelist Chris Ware.) On the powerhouse lineup: Nelson Algren (Don DiLillo memories plus a previously unpublished story), Sandra Cisneros, Tony D’Souza, Stuart Dybek, Aleksandar Hemon, Thom Jones, Alex Kotlowitz, Dinaw Mengestu, Richard Powers, George Saunders, Jimmy Schuyler, Elaine Showalter on Jane Addams, Wole Soyinka on Barack Obama.