Barrel Fever
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | David Sedaris |
| Products | Short story and essay collection |
Barrel Fever and Other Stories is a 1994 anthology comprising short stories and essays by American humorist David Sedaris. The collection is divided into two sections: the first presents fictional narratives, while the latter offers autobiographical essays, a structure that distinguishes this volume from Sedaris's other publications.
Among the essays, "SantaLand Diaries" stands out as the most prominent, having brought Sedaris widespread acclaim following its 1992 broadcast on National Public Radio. This piece details his time working as an elf named Crumpet at Macy's. Another significant essay, "Diary of a Smoker," was transformed into a 13-minute film directed by Matthew Modine and featured at the Sundance Film Festival. The book attained bestseller status in cities including Chicago and San Francisco.
Background
Prior to the publication of Barrel Fever, Sedaris had composed various stories that remained unpublished. His appearances on NPR's This American Life sparked interest from several publishers, coinciding with the completion of a manuscript ready for submission.
Stories
- Parade
- Music for Lovers
- The Last You'll Hear from Me
- My Manuscript
- Firestone
- We Get Along
- Glen's Homophobia Newsletter Vol. 3, No. 2
- Don's Story
- Season's Greetings to Our Friends and Family!!!
- Jamboree
- After Malison
- Barrel Fever
Essays
- Diary of a Smoker
- Giantess
- The Curly Kind
- SantaLand Diaries
Reception
A 1994 review in Newsweek observed Sedaris's preference for "high-concept premises" alongside a tendency to "avoid profound reflections," yet commended his talent for satirizing characters and revealing vanity. The critique emphasized his distinctive viewpoint shaped by varied life experiences.
In a 2007 article from The New Republic, Sedaris's approach to blending fact with fiction—especially in Barrel Fever—was examined critically. Editor Alex Heard, initially an admirer, noted that the short story "My Manuscript" was entirely fictional, although many critics mistakenly took certain aspects—like the guitar instructor "Mr. Chatam"—as truthful, despite these elements being humorously exaggerated versions of real-life events.