From such classics as the thousand-year-old Tale of Genji to contemporary fiction by Zadie Smith and Alice Munro, Jane Smiley explores the power of the form, looking at its history and variety, its cultural impact, and just how it works its magic. She invites us behind the scenes of novel-writing, sharing her own habits and spilling the secrets of her craft, and offering insightful advice to aspiring authors.

"Engaging…. Smiley's unmediated voice—blunt, uncompromising and witty—rings from every page." —LATBR