This affordably-priced collection presents masterpieces of short fiction from 52 of the greatest story writers of all time. From Sherwood Anderson to Virginia Woolf, this anthology encompasses a rich global and historical mix of the very best works of short fiction and presents them in a way students will find accessible, engaging, and relevant. The book's unique integration of biographical and critical background gives students a more intimate understanding of the works and their authors. Part I. Introduction. The art of the short story.— Part II. Stories [A-J]. Chinua Dead men's path ; Author's perspective, modern Africa as the crossroads of culture—Sherwood Hands ; Author's perspective, Words not plot give form to a short story—Margaret Happy endings ; Author's perspective, On the Canadian identity—James Sonny's blues ; Author's perspective, Race and the African-American writer—Jorge Luis The garden of forking paths ; Author's perspective, Literature as experience—Albert The guest ; Author's perspective, Revolution and repression in Algeria—Raymond Cathedral ; A small, good thing ; Author's perspective, Commonplace but precise language—Willa Paul's case ; Author's perspective, Art as the process of simplification—John The swimmer ; Author's perspective, Why I write short stories—Anton The lady with the pet dog ; Misery ; Author's perspective, Natural description and "The center of gravity" — Kate The storm ; The story of an hour ; Author's perspective, My writing method—Sandra Barbie-Q ; Author's perspective, Bilingual style—Joseph The secret sharer ; Author's perspective, The condition of art—Stephen The open boat ; Author's perspective, The sinking of the Commodore—Ralph A party down at the square ; Author's perspective, Race and fiction—William Barn burning ; A rose for Emily ; Author's perspective, The human heart in conflict with itself—F. Scott Babylon revisited ; Author's perspective, On his own literary aims—Gustave A simple heart ; Author's perspective, The labor of style—Gabriel García A very old man with enormous wings ; Author's perspective, García My beginnings as a writer—Charlotte Perkins The yellow wallpaper ; Author's perspective, Why I wrote "The yellow wallpaper" — Nikolai The overcoat ; Author's perspective, On realism—Nadine A company of laughing faces ; Author's perspective, How the short story differs from the novel—Nathaniel Young Goodman Brown ; The birthmark ; Author's perspective, On the public failure of his early stories—Ernest A clean, well-lighted place ; Author's perspective, One true sentence—Zora Neale Sweat ; Author's perspective, Eatonville when you look at it—Shirley The lottery ; Author's perspective, The public reception of "The lottery" — Henry The real thing ; Author's perspective, The mirror of a consciousness—Ha Saboteur ; Author's perspective, Deciding to write in English—James Joyce : Araby ; The dead ; Author's perspective, Epiphanies. Part II[ Cont.]. Stories [K-W]. Franz Before the law ; The metamorphosis ; Author's perspective, Discussing The metamorphosis—D.H. Odour of Chrysanthemums ; The rocking-horse winner ; Author's perspective, The novel is the bright book of life—Ursula K. Le the ones who walk away from Omelas ; Author's perspective, Le On "The ones who walk away from Omelas" — Doris A woman on a roof ; Author's perspective, My beginnings as a writer—Jack To build a fire ; Author's perspective, Defending the factuality of "To build a fire" — Katherine Miss Brill ; The garden-party ; Author's perspective, On "The garden-party" — Bobbie Ann Shiloh ; Author's perspective, Minimalist fiction—Guy de The necklace ; Author's perspective, The realist method—Herman Bartleby, the scrivener : a story of Wall-Street ; Author's perspective, American literature—Yukio Patriotism ; Author's perspective, Physical courage and death—Alice How I met my husband ; Author's perspective, How I write short stories—Joyce Carol where are you going, where have you been? ; Author's perspective, Productivity and the critics—Flannery O' A good man is hard to find ; Revelation ; Author's perspective, O' The element of suspense in "A good man is hard to find" — Edgar Allan The fall of the House of Usher ; The Tell-tale heart ; Author's perspective, The tale and its effect—Katherine Anne Flowering Judas ; Author's perspective, Writing "Flowering Judas" — Leslie Marmon The man to send rain clouds ; Author's perspective, the basis of "The man to send rain clouds" — Isaac Bashevis Gimpel the Fool ; Author's perspective, The character of Gimpel—Leo The death of Ivan Ilych ; Author's perspective, The moral responsibility of art—John Separating ; Author's perspective, Why write? — Alice Everyday use ; Author's perspective, The Black woman writer in America—Eudora...