The residents of Winesburg, Ohio, featured in the tangentially inter-connected short stories of this book bring to mind Thoreau’s description of those who lead “lives of quiet desperation.” These stories are lovingly, intricately crafted character studies. There is little action or drama here, but that’s not the point. The objective, so effectively accomplished, is to bring small-town Ohio to life. It’s not particularly riveting reading, but it is brilliant writing.