This book is a thorough critical analysis of the novels and short stories of Peter Hillsman Taylor. The focus is upon the identification and exploration of Taylor's major themes: the effects of heritage upon the individual, the initiation experiences that lead to self-discovery, the conflict between tradition and change, the struggle for power and identity, and the influence of place and the past. The author demonstrates how the fiction articulates Taylor's identity as a modern Southerner from a traditional, affluent family, and she defines Taylor's place in the Southern literary tradition. Students, teachers, and fans of American literature and particularly of contemporary Southern fiction will appreciate this insightful book.