About the Author, Alfred & Emily Grossbrenner (Cader Books, NY, 2000) ****

This is one dandy book, a reference actually, written by a couple of bibliophiles for bibliophiles. Grossbrenners have compiled a wealth of information on an eclectic group of 125 'best-loved' authors of fiction. The authors include every genre; mystery, fantasy, romance, techno-thrillers, western and mainstream (mostly). The authors range in diversity from Jane Austen and Jean Auel to Virginia Woolf and Tom Wolfe, classic to modern. You'll find names like Grafton and Grisham and Hammet or Heinlein and Heller and Hemmingway; McDermott and Mitchell and Morrison; Steele (yes, Danielle Steele)and Steinbeck and Styron. Now that's eclectic. And there are plenty of classical authors ranging from Conrad and Dickens and James to Tolstoy and Twain and Wharton.

There are two full pages devoted to each author, and in those pages you'll find a photo and short biography, a list of their works, their best book to read first, other authors you'd like if you liked this author, quotations, websites and societies devoted to that author, biographical and critical works on the author, and a bag full of interesting facts and tidbits about the author, their times, and their works.

The book is fully indexed and includes appendices on literary awards, best of the best, and other useful readers' resources. It's current, inexpensive ($16.), easy to find, and fun to read. It is most aptly subtitled, "The passionate readers guide to the authors you love, including things you never knew, juicy bits you'll want to know, and hundreds of ideas for what to read next." I highly recommend it.