In the Arena: Stories of Political Life Book

Chosen because of the title. I am familiar with the Dubuses (both I & III) and I love the fatalism both writers evoke... it translates superbly unto screen ("House of Sand and Fog" [Dubus III:], "In the Bedroom," "We Don't Live Here Anymore"...). This collection of shorties does everything possible to dispel the following thesis: "The Times Are Never So Bad." Yeah- the times are bearable... (only) barely. What makes these so >well written< is the fact that sadness is never given a name... everything is found on the edges, at the periphery of each one of these drama-filled vignettes. These people are living sad existences!! Not because of death or violence (though there's sufficient of these both), but because of circumstances in their daily lives.