Great Short Stories by American Women

Great Short Stories by American Women

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3.75 of 5 stars 3.75  ·  rating details  ·  128 ratings  ·  19 reviews
Choice collection of 13 stories includes "Life in the Iron Mills" by Rebecca Harding Davis, Zora Neale Hurston's "Sweat," plus superb fiction by Kate Chopin, Willa Cather, Edith Wharton, many others.
Paperback, 192 pages
Published February 5th 1996 by Dover Publications
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Sophia
A few boring stories (early American lit, I do not like you), but also some real gems by favorites like Wharton, Cather, and Chopin. I like the range of viewpoints the book presents on the female characters, from witty to heartbreaking, and I was interested to see how being pigeon-holed as "local colorists" (Sarah Orne Jewett, for example) often allowed female authors to step out of the "Must be just like England!/Must be completely unlike England!" that preoccupied so many contemporary male aut...more
StrangeBedfellows
I'm not a fan of short stories, but I must admit -- the selections for this book are well-chosen. Several literary heavy-hitters are included, such as Louisa May Alcott, Zora Neale Hurston, Edith Wharton, and Willa Cather. And, of course, there's the popular "Yellow Wall-Paper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. These really are "great" stories, iconic even, making this collection a good addition to any library.
Eric
I put this on here, not only because it contains some essential readings (Perkins-Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" and Glaspell's "A Jury of Her Peers" to mention just two), but because these Dover "thrift editions" are a steal! These books are usually no more than 3 to 5 dollars and they stock a pretty good range of what could be called "classics." DO a web seach for Dover Thrift Edition, or the title of this one, and you'll see the whole list.

Of course, some of the authors in here are real qual...more
Lola
13 short stories by various authors dating back to the 1830s.
The ones I liked best were:

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell
Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston
John
This was a good collection of short stories. I recall a few of them really standing out, and it was my introduction, really, to Kate Chopin. I regret that I no longer have a copy available.
Photina
It's a collection of short stories. I enjoyed most of the stories. There were a few that I was definitely glad they were a short story but others that I wish had been longer.
TaleofGenji
May 23, 2012 TaleofGenji marked it as to-read
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11147626
Tami
never was a fan of short stories until a couple years ago. now the ones i hate end quickly and the ones i love, i can make my own endings.
Marisa
Aug 26, 2009 Marisa is currently reading it
I've read most of these stories, but I'm looking forward to taking the book to the beach today... like reconnecting with a good friend : )
Leah
May 21, 2012 Leah rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Margery Magill
Shelves: classics
I loved all the stories in this. My friend Margery gave this to me and I am so happy she did!
Lila Vogt
Many of the late greats included in this sweet little anthology.
Emily
I just read "The Yellow Room" at midnight last night - very creepy. Don't read this one late at night! Another one I really liked in this collection is "A Jury of Her Peers." These two women are patronized by the men but they are the smart ones, and keep their discovery under wraps from the men! Also, "Sweat," by Zora Neale Hurston with a cold, cruel, yet satisfying ending.
Ellen
Most of the stories were highly enjoyable especially the six stories I had to read for an American literature course. This collection of short stories by American women are a great way to be introduced to some of the canonical women authors in American literature.
Amanda
This is a great anthology although incomplete. It is a good starter book for someone who wants to become familiar with female American writers. It covers a range of styles and topics and at the very least entices the reader to discover more female writers.
Jennifer James
I really enjoyed these, and I didn't think I liked short stories. I want to read more fiction by most of these women.
Kimberlee
Pretty much I love this book because it has some amazing classic stories that help define American Literature.
Heather
Mostly stories very familiar to me from my undergrad, with a few I haven't read thrown in for excitement.
Nutter
Some interesting stuff, some not so interesting stuff. Not bad for a light read though.
Allyson
Stories date from 1861-1930. Major literary movements including transcendentalism, realism, naturalism, and the Harlem Renaissance are clearly represented. By no means a comprehensive collection, but the stories are well-selected (if highly thematic). This book also introduced me to a couple of writers I was unfamiliar with. Not a bad little Dover Thrift edition for the fifty cents I paid for it.
Leanne
May 19, 2013 Leanne added it
Timmy Semenza
May 12, 2013 Timmy Semenza marked it as to-read
Maria
May 07, 2013 Maria marked it as to-read
Blake
Apr 28, 2013 Blake marked it as to-read
Shelves: books-i-own
Jonathan Robbins
May 03, 2013 Jonathan Robbins is currently reading it
Sadie
Mar 24, 2013 Sadie marked it as to-read
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