In Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck's beautifully rendered depictions of small yet fateful moments that transform ordinary lives, these twelve early stories introduce both the subject and style of artistic expression that recur in the most important works of his career. Each of these self-contained stories is linked to the others by the presence of the Munroes, a family whose misguided behavior and lack of sensitivity precipitate disasters and tragedies. As the individual dramas unfold, Steinbeck reveals the self-deceptions, intellectual limitations, and emotional vulnerabilities that shape...
In Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck's beautifully rendered depictions of small yet fateful moments that transform ordinary lives, these twelve early ...
James Nagel offers the first systematic history and definition of the short story cycle genre as exemplified in contemporary American fiction, bringing attention to the format's wide appeal among various ethnic groups. He examines in detail eight recent manifestations of the story cycle, all praised by critics while uniformly misidentified as novels: Love Medicine, by Louise Erdrich; Annie John, by Jamaica Kincaid; Monkeys, by Susan Minot; The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros; The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien; How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, by Julia Alvarez; The Joy...
James Nagel offers the first systematic history and definition of the short story cycle genre as exemplified in contemporary American fiction, bringin...
A Companion to the American Short Story traces the development of this versatile literary genre over the past 200 years.
Sets the short story in context, paying attention to the interaction of cultural forces and aesthetic principles
Contributes to the ongoing redefinition of the American canon, with close attention to the achievements of women writers as well as such important genres as the ghost story and detective fiction
Embraces diverse traditions including African-American, Jewish-American, Latino, Native-American, and regional short story writing
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A Companion to the American Short Story traces the development of this versatile literary genre over the past 200 years.
This is a concise yet comprehensive treatment of the American short story that includes an historical overview of the topic as well as discussion of notable American authors and individual stories, from Benjamin Franklin's "The Speech of Miss Polly Baker" in 1747 to "The Joy Luck Club."
Includes a selection of writers chosen not only for their contributions of individual stories but for bodies of work that advanced the boundaries of short fiction, including Washington Irving, Sarah Orne Jewett, Stephen Crane, Jamaica Kincaid, and Tim O'Brien
Addresses the ways in...
This is a concise yet comprehensive treatment of the American short story that includes an historical overview of the topic as well as discussion o...
