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In the 1970s and 1980s, before he earned national acclaim for his novels, Pete Dexter was a newspaper columnist. Every week, in a few hundred words, he cut directly to the heart of the American character at a time of national turmoil and crucial change. His columns laid bare the violence, hypocrisy, and desperation he saw on the streets of Philadelphia and in the places he visited across the country. But he reveled, too, in the lighter side of his own life, sharing scenes with the indefatigable Mrs. Dexter, their young daughter, and a series of unforgettable creatures who strayed into their lives. No matter what caught Dexter's eye, it was illuminated by his dark, brilliant humor. Collected here for the first time are 82 of the best of those spellbinding, finely wrought pieces, with a new introduction by the author.--From publisher description.