Welcome to the Monkey House

Since its original publication in 1968, Welcome to the Monkey House has been one of Kurt Vonnegut’s most beloved works. This special edition celebrates a true master of the short-story form by including multiple variant drafts of what would eventually be the title story. In a fascinating accompanying essay, “Building the Monkey House: At Kurt Vonnegut’s Writing Table,” noted Vonnegut scholar Gregory D. Sumner walks readers through Vonnegut’s process as he struggles—false start after false start—to hit upon what would be one of his greatest stories. The result is the rare chance to watch a great writer hone his craft in real time.
 
Praise for Kurt Vonnegut
 
“Kurt Vonnegut is, in my view, the great, urgent passionate American writer of our century.”—George Saunders
 
“Vonnegut’s fiction itches to seize the human truth by its large handles.”—John Updike