The last hundred years or so have proved fertile ground for the short story. Writers of genius from Dickens and Hardy to Angus Wilson annd Graham Greene have received exceptional praise fro their skilful handling of this art form.
This volume contains sixteen examples of the short story at its best: concise, evocative and hugely entertaining. Some, for example James Joyce's 'The Dead', are classics; others, like Evelyn Waugh's 'Mr Loveday's Little Outing', are perhaps less familiar. Nethertheless, each one is a perfect demonstration of how subtle and satisfying the short story medium can be.