Widely acclaimed as one of the finest short-story writers and known for her acerbic wit, complex themes, and illuminating portrayal of the American South, Flannery O'Connor is a favorite among students, scholars, and general readers. Known for her stories "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" and "Everything that Rises Must Converge," O'Connor's work often appears on class syllabi and in college courses today."Critical Companion to Flannery O'Connor" examines her life and works, and includes critical analyses of some of the themes in her writing, as well as entries on related topics and relevant people, places, and influences.

Focusing here on the comic genius of Flannery O’Connor’s fiction, Anthony Di Renzo reveals a dimension of the author’s work that has been overlooked by both her supporters and her detractors, most of whom have heretofore concentrated exclusively on her use of theology and parable.