Inviting the Muses: Stories, Essays, Reviews

Devotees of Young ( Miss MacIntosh, My Darling ) will welcome this collection of her early writings. Included are three short stories (one not published before); 15 essays; 23 book reviews; and character sketches on Johnny Gruelle, who created Raggedy Ann, and on poet Marianne Moore. Young's passion for literature is reflected in her piece ``On Teaching,'' as well as in her book reviews. She expresses respect for authors who use symbolism and mysticism in their work, such as Truman Capote's Other Voices, Other Rooms and Doris Lessing's Children of Violence series. She is vehement in her criticism of Jean-Paul Sartre, denouncing his theories on the meaningless of life. (Aug.)