Crossing Over
Richard Currey's first book, Crossing Over: The Vietnam Stories, originally published in 1980, was among the earliest works of fiction to emerge from the Vietnam war. Praised by activist priest and poet Daniel Berrigan as "true minimal art, where less is profoundly more," the book was selected by Library Journal as a "Best of the Year" title. Crossing Over was performed several times on both stage and radio (including a powerful performance by inmate-veterans at Raiford State Prison in Florida). Crossing Over has been in print for over 25 years. The Santa Fe Writers Project now has signed copies available for $14.00. Please see the Order page for details.
"Crossing Over is a poetically-bonded, gritty, vividly-detailed book with tersely understated emotion-thus might one characterize these articulate vignettes of war. Currey is humanely aware in these exceptional narratives, and his skills as a writer, honed in his other solidly crafted books, allow Crossing Over to vibrate...a field notebook, dreadful and beautiful."
—Joel Lipman in Tap Root Review
As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ground on, a young actor-playwright named Andrew Sneed rediscovered Currey's landmark work. Moved by Currey's passion and unflinching vision, Sneed saw the obvious parallels with his own generation's war. Searching out the author, Sneed asked if he could craft a new version for the stage. Currey agreed. Sneed invited director Ron Harris aboard along with several actor friends, and a staged reading was presented in New York on March 24, 2007.
The play will be workshopped in June at the University of Alabama-Huntsville under the direction of Ron Harris, with stage design by UAH's David Harwell, culminating in workshop performances on June 22 and 23. Details are on the Events page. See a trailer for the production at Youtube.com
"Vietnam is a complicated story that will speak to us in many voices, and for a long time. In Crossing Over, Richard Currey's is one of the truest and most resonant of those voices."
—North American Review
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