The Kindness of Terrible People and other stories

"Let us not waste words: in The Kindness of Terrible People and Other Stories, debut author Stephanie Dupal gives us a masterful collection packing emotional and moral weight. Her prose is rich and precise; her characters are urgent and conflicted; and her intelligence, erudition, and ambition are always evident. In short, her book is a singular achievement."

-- Jeffery Renard Allen, author of Song of the Shank and Fat Time and Other Stories

"Over the course of 15 short stories, Dupal showcases dynamic, daring characters unafraid to explore the darkest parts of themselves. These tales take place in a wide range of settings, from Hollywood's Golden Age to the earliest days of the Covid-19 pandemic to 18th-century France and beyond. A woman embarks on a dangerous hike despite warnings of a storm in "Over the Mountain Steep." In "A Baby of the Ganges," a grieving mother, abroad and struggling to reconnect with her partner, regrets and reneges on a choice which might have helped her. In the collection's title story, a retired university professor imagines seducing the man whom her niece has recently started dating while unveiling his own seedy history, while the opening tale, "To Lie Engulfed in the Waves of the Sea," introduces a woman who, after a debilitating accident, is forced to lie in order to get a job, where she continues to lie in order to help someone with a secret wish. In another story, "Olympic Hopeful, 19, Dies After Winning U.S. Figure Skating Championships," two adopted sisters must rely on each other, due to their mother's neglect. Throughout, Dupal convincingly paints distinct character portraits and evokes vastly different time periods and locales. Still, her lyrical prose provides an identifiable signature across the entire work...Dupal's acute attention to detail often gives way to glimmering insights. A well-polished and enjoyable first set, demonstrating impressive range and focus."

--Kirkus Reviews

"Stephanie Dupal's The Kindness of Terrible People and Other Stories is a stirring debut that deftly explores the power of relationships, and the fate and choices that achingly shape our lives. Across fifteen vividly rendered stories, Dupal writes with exacting grace and insight, crafting prose that hums with intelligence and feeling. A collection of remarkable depth and beauty."

-- Karen Winn, author of The Society and Our Little World