Alfred Corn, the esteemed poet and man of letters, brings his considerable gifts to Hosts, a radiant collection of short stories. Across ten pieces, his unmistakable poetic sensibility and the immeasurable storehouse of his vocabulary create a word‑lover’s paradise. These contemporary tales—of love, loss, memory, and disappointment—carry an ageless resonance, making them feel both timely and enduring. It is the kind of collection discerning readers have been waiting for.