Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support
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at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - - When Edward J. O'Brien asked me to
cooperate with him in choosing each year's best English short
stories, to be published as a companion volume to his annual
selection of the best American short stories, I had not realized
that at the end of my arduous task, which has involved the reading
of many hundreds of stories in the English magazines of an entire
year, I should find myself asking the simple question: What is a
short story? I do not suppose that a hundred years ago such a
question could have occurred to any one. Then all that a story was
and could be was implied in the simple phrase: "Tell me a
story...." We all know what that means. How many stories published
today would stand this simple if final test of being told by word
of mouth? I doubt whether fifty per cent would. Surely the
universality of the printing press and the linotype machine have
done something to alter the character of literature, just as the
train and the telephone have done not a little to abolish polite
correspondence. Most stories of today are to be read, not told.
Hence great importance must be attached to the manner of writing;
in some instances, the whole effect of a modern tale is dependent
on the manner of presentation. Henry James is, possibly, an extreme
example.
General
Imprint: |
1st World Library - Literary Society
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
June 2006 |
First published: |
June 2006 |
Authors: |
Edward J. O'Brien
|
Editors: |
1stworld Library
|
Dimensions: |
216 x 140 x 29mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Hardcover - Sewn / Cloth over boards / With dust jacket
|
Pages: |
452 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-4218-0022-6 |
Categories: |
Books >
Fiction >
Special features >
Short stories
|
LSN: |
1-4218-0022-5 |
Barcode: |
9781421800226 |
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