The Penguin Book of English Short Stories

Contains 14 stories by men, just two by women. And then the patronising editorial foreword comments, "An advantage of the short story as a literary form in its own right is that it allows an essentially minor talent to fulfil itself. Katherine Mansfield is a good example ..."! ( )

This volume contains sixteen examples of the English short story at its best: immediately captivating and hugely entertaining. Some stories are classics, such as James Joyce's "The Dead"; others - like 'Mr Loveday's "Little Outing" by Evelyn Waugh - are relatively unknown and a joy to discover. The collection also includes Charles Dickens' premonitory tale, "The Signalman" which was inspired by his own horrific experiences in a train crash. Katherine Mansfield's "The Voyage", meanwhile, is a sensual narrative centering on a boat journey and set in her native New Zealand. Virginia Woolf's "Kew Gardens" is different again, dramatically evoking its setting, awash with colour and light.

Some of these stories were a bit obtuse for my liking, but others were more enjoyable. The Signalman was quite creepy, as was The Withered Arm. I particularly enjoyed The Voyage and The Country of the Blind. I probably wouldn't recommend this book for people who aren't used to short stories, as some of stories are quite heavy reading. However, if you are a fan of the short story genre, this book is worth reading. ( )

Includes Dickens, Hardy, Conrad, Kipling, Wells, Maugham, Joyce, Woolf, Lawrence, Mansfield, Cary, Huxley, Pritchett, Waugh, Greene, Angus Wilson