- User's guide - Editor's note and introduction by Harold Bloom - Biography of the short story writer - List of characters in each story - Detailed thematic analysis of each short story - Extracts from major critical essays that discuss important aspects of each work - A complete bibliography of the writer's works - A list of critical works about the short stories covered in the book - An index of themes and ideas in the author's work

- A biographical and critical review of the world's most important writers - Expert analysis by Harold Bloom - A wealth of information on the writers most commonly read in high schools, colleges, and universities