Major Issues
Author Links
Essay Questions

Major Issues

Bobbie Ann Mason’s fiction is peopled with everyday characters struggling with everyday problems. These problems, critics observe, include: the conflict between personal history and future desires; emotional isolation; and the difficult negotiations required within relationships, especially families. The unavoidable regrets and repercussions that inevitably accompany major decisions have been identified as another common Mason subject. Mason’s work is set in the rural Southern United States, which is rapidly giving away to urbanization. Her stories often focus on working-class characters, whose struggles to cope with disappointment and dissatisfaction are usually left unresolved. Her short fiction is often compared with that of Ann Beattie.

Author Links

Bobbie Ann Mason homepage
This student-created homepage includes a biography, list of works, selected summaries, and links.

Featured Author: Bobbi Ann Mason
Reviews of Mason’s books, and articles about Mason from the archives of The New York Times, plus an audio link.

Mason’s Portrayal of Modern Western Kentucky
This essay focuses on Mason’s portrayal of her home state in "Shiloh" and other stories.

Bobbi Ann Mason
This page will connect you to print and audio interviews with Mason.

Facing Towards Home
This article discusses Mason’s memoir and includes the author’s comments on memories, and the relationship between life and fiction.