Originally published in 1997, Drown instantly garnered terrific acclaim. Moving from the barrios of the Dominican Republic to the struggling urban communities of New Jersey, these heartbreaking, completely original stories established Díaz as one of contemporary fiction s most exhilarating new voices. There s a new excitement in Drown, the fierce, sharp-edged, painful stories of a young Dominican-American writer, Junot Díaz: a dazzling talented first book . Hermione Lee, Independent on Sunday, Books of the Year A voice so original and compelling as to reach far beyond his immediate environment. It has put Díaz at the forefront of American writing . GQ He has that rare gift of delineating a recognizable trademark world of his own with just a few deft strokes . Guardian Wrings the heart with finely calibrated restraint . New York Times