"In this book, Paul West imparts the wisdom he has learned over the decades in the form of a memoir of his last writing class. Recapturing the semester, West brings the reader into the classroom and recalls, with perfect pitch, the hours of discussion and disputation. Each student comes to life, and the writing lessons are offered in various and wonderful forms.".

"Best of all, while he is striving to widen the horizon of the young writers, and attempting to raise them to the highest standards, West's appreciation of his writers' strengths and encouragements of their careers is heartening."--BOOK JACKET.