The short stories contained in this book reflect the manifold talents of Zora Neale Hurston as a fiction writer. Hurston knew her subject matter inside and out, whether it be the poor African American communities of Florida or Harlem during the "Renaissance." She blends folklore and keen observations with her anthropological knowledge to create stories that seem like little pieces of real life. In stories like "Spunk," "Isis" and "Sweat," she heralds her brilliant novels such as "Their Eyes Were Watching God" and "Jonah's Gourd Vine." Hurston's mastery of biblical themes and styles is reflected in "Book of Harlem" and "Herod on Trial" (in the appendix), a skill she would later put to use in her masterpiece "Moses, Man of the Mountain." Also, in almost all of the stories, the dialogue is authentic and very fun to read.