Writing in an Age of Silence - by Sara Paretsky (Paperback)

About the Book

A revealing look at the power of speaking out, Writing in an Age of Silence describes Paretski's coming of age in a time of great possibility, during the civil rights movement, the peace movement, and the women's movement. Bestselling crime-writer Sarah Paretsky has won critical acclaim for her V.I. Warshawski novels, centered around one of the first and most popular female investigators in contemporary fiction.

Book Synopsis

A revealing look at the power of speaking out, Writing in an Age of Silence describes Paretski's coming of age in a time of great possibility, during the civil rights movement, the peace movement, and the women's movement. Bestselling crime-writer Sarah Paretsky has won critical acclaim for her V.I. Warshawski novels, centered around one of the first and most popular female investigators in contemporary fiction. In this fascinating and personal account, Paretsky describes a life shaped by the desire to act. From the feminist movement--which triggered her aspirations to write and shaped the character of her female detective--to the Patriot Act and the liberties we have lost, Paretsky describes the struggle of one individual to find a voice. A moving call to action, Writing in an Age of Silence chronicles the social changes that have shaped contemporary America, and mirrors a desire for freedom, both personal and political, that many Americans will relate to today.

Review Quotes

"A passionate Zolaesque j'accuse."--John Leonard, Harper's

"In this brief, potent memoir, Paretsky proves as sharp and straight-shooting as V. I. Warshawski."--Publishers Weekly

"The journey from love-starved childhood to adult celebrity, and the essential role of literature in the metamorphosis, makes for a powerful and anguishing kind of autobiography."--Chicago Tribune

"This poignant and compelling personal testimony explains both the influences which made her a writer and the kind of writer she became ... both a testimony and a polemic; it is one woman's voice among many, but it is a powerful one."--P D James, Spectator

"Written with graceful economy, Writing in an Age of Silence is an urgent cry for dissent and a powerful reminder that liberties taken for granted may someday not be granted at all."--Booklist

About the Author

Sara Paretsky is the author of the bestselling V.I. Warshawski novels, including, most recently, Bleeding Kansas. Paretsky is the winner of many awards, including the Cartier Diamond Dagger award for lifetime achievement from the British Crime Writers' Association. She lives in Chicago.