The Mortgaged Heart

The Mortgaged Heart by Carson McCullers is a significant collection published by Penguin Books in 1975, featuring 299 pages in English. This edition presents an absorbing look at the early beginnings of McCullers’s literary career, showcasing a variety of her works, including stories, essays, articles, and poems. The pieces, primarily written before she turned nineteen, offer valuable insights into her life and development as a writer, along with the working outline of “The Mute,” which later evolved into her acclaimed novel, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.

Readers will find a rich exploration of McCullers’s early creativity and her evolving voice within this collection. The Mortgaged Heart serves as a testament to her contributions to American literature, providing context for her growth and the influences that shaped her writing. Edited by McCullers’s sister and featuring a new introduction by Joyce Carol Oates, this collection is designed to inspire both emerging and established writers, reflecting the enduring relevance of McCullers’s work in the literary landscape.