Eleven completely new stories, narrated by 11 completely fabulous characters, written by 11 of the most celebrated voices in fiction today. Bestselling author Nick Hornby has brought together a star-studded group of writers to create this one-of-a-kind collection of first-person narratives.

From the imaginations of Dave Eggers, Zadie Smith, Irvine Welsh, Helen Fielding, Roddy Doyle, Melissa Bank, and others, including Nick Hornby himself, have sprung eleven enthralling, unforgettable talking heads. Clever, outragious, witty, edgy, tender, wicked....This is what is meant by "original."

A virtual who's who of the latest literary guard, this anthology bristles with the crackly talent and confidence of both the newly and the already fabulous. Included are Hornby himself, Melissa Bank, Dave Eggers, Helen Fielding and Zadie Smith, as well as veteran favorites Roddy Doyle and Irvine Welsh. Every story is told in the first person, and the voices are consistent, fresh, particular. Though some tales veer toward the trendy side of topical, each one surprises and entertains. Eggers's "After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned" is told by a pit bull whose anthropomorphized sensibilities and phraseology are quite lovely. Patrick Marber treads on familiar turf in "Peter Shelley," a defloration/coming-of-age story told in a blend of irreverence and awe that seems new. In "Last Requests," Giles Smith imagines some moments in the career of a Death Row chef who does her best to satisfy the inmates' final culinary wants. And Roddy Doyle further ennobles his reputation with "The Slave," in which an anxious, literate, working-class father suffers a mid-life reckoning with a large dead rat in his kitchen. None of these 12 stories disappoints. (Feb. 6) Forecast: An imaginative cover-featuring painted doll-like ceramic busts of the icontributors-will catch browsers' eyes, as will Hornby's name at the top of the jacket. The should sell snappily if prominently displayed, and perhaps more so if it becomes known that some portion of the profits will go to TreeHouse, a British school for autistic children's. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

"Though each story is well worth reading for its own sake, this skillfully composed collection also serves as an introduction to the very talented voices of the authors represented here. For many readers, it can provide a checklist of 'who to read' for the future." Danise Hoover, Booklist

"Robert Harris's 'PMQ' is a hilarious send-up of a politician's peccadilloes. Other standouts include Hornby's own 'NippleJesus,' about a controversial artwork, told from the perspective of a museum security guard, and Roddy Doyle's 'The Slave,' a stream-of-consciousness tour de force in which a rat in the house is the progenitor of a man's midlife crisis." Christine DeZelar-Tiedman, Library Journal

"Charity project or not, Speaking with the Angel is an exemplary gathering of bright literary lights from both sides of the Atlantic, doing exactly what they do best." Mary Elizabeth Williams, New York Times Book Review

"Dave Eggers's entry, 'After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned'... is a small tour de force that ratifies his ability to write about anything with style and vigor and genuine emotion.... Zadie Smith's contribution, 'I'm the Only One,' similarly showcases her gift for creating funny, engaging characters." Michiko Kakutani, New York Times

In an exciting snapshot of the best edgy literary fiction today, the author of "High Fidelity" presents the anthology of the year: stories by Helen Fielding, Melissa Bank, Roddy Doyle, Dave Eggers, Zadie Smith, and others.