High Tide in Tucson

High Tide in Tucson is a series of essays by heralded American novelist Barbara Kingsolver, collected and published in 1995. The essays are wide-ranging in subject matter, addressing topics from politics, to nature, to midcentury domestic life, but all reflect Kingsolver’s observations about herself and the people around her. Prior to her writing career, Kingsolver had a wide range of other professional experiences that influence essays in the book.

Most of the essays in High Tide in Tucson were previously published in a variety of magazines, while some were written specifically for the collection. In the preface, the author suggests reading the essays in the order they appear; despite originating in different places at different times, they are arranged by theme.

High Tide in Tucson was published just as Kingsolver was becoming a widely recognized writer. The story of her first novel, The Bean Trees (1988), is the subject of the essay titled “In Case You Ever Want to Go Home Again.” Many of the stories discuss her transition to public figure status. Kingsolver has received numerous awards, including the UK's Orange Prize for Fiction and the National Humanities Medal. Her work also been nominated for the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Pulitzer Prize.