2018 Jack Straw Writer Bryan Edenfield’s contribution to the 2018 Jack Straw Writers Anthology is a collection of opening paragraphs to books that have never been written to create a literary history of a fictional community that reflects the history of America. In his conversation with curator Daemond Arrindell, he discusses the inspiration behind this project, the fragmentary nature of writing, and getting at the truth of American history. “I was worried that I was getting too negative and critical, rather than imagining beautiful, fanciful. . . . If you can dream it, often it can inspire people, so I think that I wanted to do that. There’s a strong tendency towards people who are trying to make the world a better place in the book.”

Music by Amy Rubin and Dawn Clement, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.