The Henry Wiggen Novels by Mark Harris There is no doubt that sports and athletes seem to be considered less than worthy subjects for writers of serious fiction, a fact strange considering how deeply ingrained in North American culture the sport is, and how obviously and passionately North Americans care about it as participants and spectators. In this society made up of diverse peoples with vastly different interests, tastes, and beliefs, no experience is as universal as playing or watching sports, and so it is simply baffling how little adult fiction is written on the subject, let alone how widely regarded this topic lightly. little of what is written seems to be. It should be quite the opposite; that our fascination and familiarity with sport make it a very advantageous subject for the skilled fiction writer is amply demonstrated by Mark Harris. In his novels The Southpaw (1953), Bang The Drum Slowly (1956), A Ticket For A Seamstitch (1957) and It Looked Like For Ever (1979), Harris chronicles the life of Henry "Author" Wiggen, a major star of Major League Baseball. Featuring memorable characters and skillful storytelling, these books explore the experience of growing older, learning, and living through time, with baseball as a backdrop. Henry's first-person narration is the most important element of these stories. Through it he recounts the events of his life, his experiences with others, his successes and his problems. The great achievement of this narrative voice is how easily it reveals Henry's limited education while simultaneously demonstrating his quick intelligence, all in an entertaining and convincing way. Henry introduces himself by introducing his hometown of Perkinsville, New York, after which his sad... middle of paper ......why are they written so well. The expertly crafted narrative voice, effortless humor, compelling characterization, and thoughtful and even philosophical storytelling combine to create a series of books that compare favorably with many included in Modern's recent list of the 100 best novels of the 20th century Library, which does not appear to contain a single novel set in the world of sports. It is a curious prejudice, this apparent lack of respect for the literature that deals with sport, to which these novels represent a sharp and warm rebuke. Works Cited Harris, Mark. A ticket for a seam. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1984.---. Beat the drum slowly. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1984.---. It seemed like forever. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1989.---. The left-handed. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1984.