As critical and popular interest in Katherine Anne Porter' writing grows, readers naturally wish to see more of her work. This volume brings together twenty-nine pieces dating from before 1932, none of which appeared in her collected works and many of which are published here for the first time.Both fiction and essays are covered. The fiction includes the published stories "The Shattered Star," "The Faithful Princess," "The Magic Ear Ring," "The Adventures of Hadji," and the first version of "Hacienda," along with six previously unpublished stories drawn from Porter' papers. The essays include her monograph Outline of Mexican Popular Arts and Crafts, her first two essays on Mexican politics, her first two book reviews, and several literary sketches with Mexican themes.All these pieces belong to Porter' apprenticeship as a creative writer. Thus, they offer new insights into her artistic development and her relationship with Mexico, a place that, as she later said, "influenced everything I did afterward."