For many, Walter de la Mare is as great a writer of fiction as of poetry. Sadly, the majority of his short stories have been unavailable for some time. Now this welcome volume, the first of three, brings together more than 40 stories written between 1895 and 1926, including "The Riddle and Other Stories, Ding Dong Bell, The Connoisseur and Other Stories, Kismet, " and 14 other previously uncollected pieces. <>Contents of Short Stories 1895-1926 : (1) The Riddle and Other Stories (1923): The Almond Tree; The Count's Courtship; The Looking-Glass; Miss Duveen; Selina's Parable; Seaton's Aunt; The Bird of Travel; The Bowl; The Three Friends; Lispet, Lispett and Vaine; The Tree; Out of the Deep; The Creatures; The Riddle; The Vats. (2) Ding Dong Bell (1924): Lichen; Benighted; Strangers and Pilgrims; Winter. (3) The Connoisseur and Other Stories (1926): Mr Kempe; Missing; The Connoisseur; Disillusioned; The Nap; Pretty Poll; All Hallows; The Wharf; The Lost Track. (4) Uncollected stories: Kismet; The Hangman Luck; A Mote; The Village of Old Age; The Moon's Miracle; The Giant; De Mortuis; The Rejection of the Rector; The Match-Maker; The Budget; The Pear-Tree; Leap Year; Promise at Dusk; Two Days in Town.

For many, Walter de la Mare is as great a writer of fiction as of poetry. Sadly, the majority of his short stories have been unavailable for some time. Now this welcome volume, the second of three, brings together more stories written between 1927 and 1956, including "On the Edge, The Wind Blows Over, A Beginning and Other Stories, " as well as four uncollected stories and four unpublished stories. <>Contents of Short Stories 1927-1956: (1) On the Edge: Short Stories (1930): A Recluse; Willows; Crewe; At First Sight; The Green Room; The Orgy; An Idyll; The Picnic; An Ideal Craftsman. (2) The Wind Blows Over (1936): What Dreams May Come; Cape Race; Physic; The Talisman; In The Forest; A Froward Child; Miss Miller; The House; A Revenant; A Nest of Singing-Birds; The Trumpet. (3) A Beginning and Other Stories (1955): Odd Shop; Music; The Stranger; Neighbours; The Princess; The Guardian; The Face; The Cartouche; The Picture; The Quincunx; An Anniversary; Bad Company; A Beginning. (4) Uncollected stories: The Lynx; A Sort of Interview; The Miller's Tale; A:B:O. (5) Unpublished stories: The Orgy: an Idyll, part II; Late; Pig; Dr Iggatt.

For many people, Walter de la Mare is as great a writer of fiction as of poetry. But the majority of his short stories have long been unavailable. "Short Stories for Children "starts with "Broomsticks and Other Tales" of 1925, with its 12 stories, and continues with "The Lord Fish" of 1933 with 7 stories. Quirky, disparate, unpredictable, acutely observed, sometimes frightening, and often preoccupied with states of mind and personal identity, these stories have much in common with the adult stories. We find ourselves in railway trains, a mansion in the City of London, a remote farm house near the sea, and a drawing-room being watched by a fly; and among other things, we encounter a wise monkey, a haunted cat, a fish magician, a man who believes he has a wax nose, and a godmother celebrating her 350th birthday. As in de la Mare's poems, everyday reality may at any time become undercut by disturbing uncertainty and dark, though not always malign, forces. <>Contents of Short Stories for Children: (1) Broomsticks and Other Tales (1925): Pigtails, Ltd; The Dutch Cheese; Miss Jemima; The Thief; Broomsticks; Lucy; A Nose; The Three Sleeping Boys of Warwickshire; The Lovely Myfanwy; Alice's Godmother; Maria-Fly; Visitors. (2) The Lord Fish (1933): The Lord Fish; A Penny a Day; The Magic Jacket; Dick and the Beanstalk; The Scarecrow; The Old Lion; Sambo and the Snow Mountains.