Grand Union

by Zadie Smith
Grand Union cover
Good Books rating 3.67
Short Story Collections
Technical
  • ID: 3749
  • Added: 2025-10-20
  • Updated: 2025-10-20
  • ISBN: 9780241983133
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 2019-10-03
  • Reviews: 3

Grand Union is a vibrant and varied collection of fiction by Zadie Smith, blending new and previously published stories. It traverses different genres and viewpoints, from historical to contemporary to dystopian, offering a sharp and prescient look at time, place, identity, and rebirth. The stories are celebrated for their wit, clarity, and ability to capture the essence of modern life and its persistent legacies./n/nSmith's dialogue crackles with mordant wit, and the collection is praised for its entertainment value and clever insights. The stories in Grand Union are a testament to Smith's skill as a writer, showcasing her ability to weave together diverse narratives that are both thought-provoking and engaging.

Reviews
Books Are My Favourite and Best · 2025-09-10
disappointing 2.50

The reviewer struggled with the lack of cohesiveness and rhythm in the collection, noting that while Smith excels at quickly establishing settings, the overall experience feels disjointed.

The reviewer found Zadie Smith's collection challenging due to its lack of cohesiveness and rhythm. They acknowledge Smith's talent for quickly and clearly establishing settings and characters, but feel that the collection as a whole lacks a unifying thread. The reviewer appreciates Smith's ability to capture moments with vivid detail, but ultimately finds the experience frustrating due to the disjointed nature of the stories.

Quick quotes

    I struggled with Grand Union. The collection lacked cohesiveness and rhythm.

    While Smith is terrific at quickly and clearly establishing a setting or character, the overall collection feels disjointed.

    The lack of a unifying theme or thread makes the reading experience frustrating.

The New York Times · 2020-07-22
innovative 4.00

The reviewer notes that Smith's collection moves beyond traditional narrative into the surreal and essayistic, showcasing her experimental approach to storytelling.

The reviewer highlights Zadie Smith's bold experimentation with narrative forms in her first story collection. They appreciate how Smith moves beyond traditional storytelling into surreal and essayistic territories, creating a unique and thought-provoking reading experience. The reviewer finds the collection to be a testament to Smith's versatility and her ability to push the boundaries of short fiction. They particularly enjoy the variety of styles and genres, which keeps the collection engaging and fresh.

Quick quotes

    In her first story collection, 'Grand Union,' the British novelist moves beyond traditional narrative into the surreal, the essayistic, and the experimental.

    Smith's collection is a testament to her versatility and her ability to push the boundaries of short fiction.

    The variety of styles and genres keeps the collection engaging and fresh.

The Guardian · 2019-10-14
brilliant 4.50

The reviewer praises Zadie Smith's mastery of language and her ability to navigate different settings, finding the short story format perfect for her talents. They highlight her ear for dialogue and the freshness of her observations.

The reviewer is impressed by Zadie Smith's brilliant use of language and her ability to effortlessly switch between different settings. They appreciate how the short story format allows her to showcase her skills in dialogue and observation. The reviewer finds that each story feels unique and engaging, with a contemporary relevance that makes the collection stand out. They particularly enjoy the variety and the way Smith captures the essence of different characters and situations with such precision.

Quick quotes

    Smith is brilliant with language, deftly navigates different settings, has an ear for dialogue and the short story seems the perfect way for her.

    The characters are involving, the observation bracing, and the action sexy and hilarious, so we do not mind that this story overflows its form.

    Nothing is off limits, and everything--when captured by Smith's brilliant gaze--feels fresh and relevant.

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