A Piece of Mine - by J California Cooper (Paperback)

About the Book

In 1984, an extraordinary first collection of short stories written by award-winning playwright J. California Cooper was published to much acclaim. Now back in print, A Piece of Mine remains one of her most loved books. "Cooper's characters are the folk heroes of Black culture . . ".--Essence.

Book Synopsis

The extraordinary debut short story collection from the award-winning author of Family and Life is Short But Wide.

"In its strong folk flavor, Cooper's work reminds us of Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston ... It is a delight to read." --Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize winner and bestselling author

"The label 'short' story is a woefully inadequate description of these intensely, explicitly moral tales. 'Parable' is more appropriate. Cooper's stories are rich in wisdom and insight." --Belles Lettres

Review Quotes

"In its strong folk flavor, Cooper's work reminds us of Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston...It is a delight to read."
--Alice Walker

"The label 'short' story is a woefully inadequate description of these intensely, explicitly moral tales. 'Parable' is more appropriate. Cooper's stories are rich in wisdom and insight."
--Belles Lettres

"J. California Cooper is indeed an extraordinary writer...She has the rare quality of a natural storyteller, and her work must carry the highest recommendation. Definitely a book that's worth reading."
--African Concord (Zimbabwe)

About the Author

J. California Cooper is the author of four novels and six collections of stories. She was honored as Black Playwright of the Year, and her work received the American Book Award, the James Baldwin Writing Award, and the Literary Lion Award from the American Library Association. She died in 2014.