Rural Appalachian region of West Virginia

 Breece D'J Pancake was an American short story writer who is considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. He was born in South Charleston, West Virginia, in 1952 and died by suicide in 1979 at the age of 26.

Pancake's stories are set in the rural Appalachian region of West Virginia, and they often deal with themes of poverty, violence, and alienation. His characters are often outsiders and misfits, struggling to find their place in a world that seems to have no use for them.

Pancake's writing is characterized by its stark realism and its unflinching portrayal of the dark side of human nature. His stories are often violent and disturbing, but they are also deeply moving and compassionate.

Pancake published only six short stories during his lifetime, but they have been praised by critics and readers alike. His work has been compared to that of William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, and Ernest Hemingway.

In 1983, a collection of Pancake's stories was published posthumously under the title The Stories of Breece D'J Pancake. The book was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to introduce Pancake's work to a wider audience.

Pancake's stories continue to be read and studied today. He is considered one of the most important short story writers of the 20th century, and his work has had a significant impact on American literature.

Here are some of his most famous stories:

• "The Killers"
• "Trilobites"
• "The Death of Howells"
• "A Roomful of People"
• "The Return"
• "The Afterlife of Animals"

If you're interested in reading more about Breece D'J Pancake, I recommend the following books:

• The Stories of Breece D'J Pancake (edited by Peter Stitt)
• Breece D'J Pancake: A Biography by John D. Foster
• Breece D'J Pancake: An Introduction by Jayne Anne Phillips