In the Garden of the North American Martyrs

In Tobias Wolff's engaging short story, a professor named Mary navigates the challenges of academia, grappling with her sense of identity as her college closes after fifteen years. Transitioning to an experimental college in Oregon, she feels stagnant and disheartened until an email from an old colleague reignites her hope for a new opportunity. However, as Mary prepares for an interview at a prestigious institution, she confronts the underlying vanity of her former ally, leading her to reconsider her cautious nature in a world where ambition and authenticity clash.