Lucia Berlin
3 SeriesLucia Berlin (1936-2004) was a short story writer known for her influential work within the literary community, often compared to Raymond Carver and Richard Yates. Her notable achievements include winning the Jack London Short Prize in 1985 for her one-page story "My Jockey," and receiving the American Book Award in 1991 for "Homesick." Berlin also received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.
A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin showcases her finest short stories, drawing readers into the everyday lives of diverse characters across the American Southwest and Bay Area. Berlin's narratives, infused with the raw honesty of Raymond Carver and the sharp humor of Grace Paley, explore the lives of switchboard operators, struggling mothers, and others. Her unique blend of wit and melancholy transforms ordinary settings—like Laundromats and halfway houses—into scenes of profound grace and insight.
