"A must have book for contemporary literature lovers."-- Publishers Weekly , starred review In The Pushcart Prize XXXV more than sixty selections of brilliant short stories, essays, and poetry have been picked from thousands of nominations. This is a communal effort by the Pushcart Press staff, contributing editors, and hundreds of small presses. For this edition distinguished poets Julie Sheehan and Tom Sleigh served as poetry editors. The result is an introduction to a literary world that few readers have access to, where much of today's important new writing is published, far from the commercial influence of the conglomerates. In reviewing last year's edition, Donna Seaman of Booklist commented: "A brimming, vibrant anthology-the perfect introduction to new writers and adventurous new work by established writers . extraordinary in its range of voices and subjects. Here is literature to have and to hold.

" The Pushcart Prize has been chosen for the Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement recognition by the National Book Critics Circle and the Writers for Writers award from Poets & Writers / Barnes & Noble.