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Selected Short Stories
“John O’Hara’s fiction,” wrote Lionel Trilling, “is preeminent for its social verisimilitude.” Made famous by his bestselling novels, including BUtterfield 8 and Appointment in Samarra, O’Hara (1905–1970) also wrote some of the finest short fiction of the twentieth century.
First published by the Modern Library in 1956, Selected Short Stories of John O’Hara displays the aut...more
First published by the Modern Library in 1956, Selected Short Stories of John O’Hara displays the aut...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
December 18th 2007
by Modern Library
(first published 1980)
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Though the introduction to this book credits O'Hara with having written stories that capture the speech of the characters and remain fresh though written quite some time ago, my feeling as I plodded my way through was that I'd read enough of his stories many years ago and shouldn't have bothered to bring this collection home. I just couldn't rid myself of the thought that perhaps - at least for the time being - I'd read enough fiction and should branch out a little.
Renae Bonde
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I didn't read them all.. all of the short stories. The ones I read, well.. one I read was somewhat ironic. Another one was confusing; I think there may have been implicit drug use, possibly prostitution? mafia relations perhaps. Nothing too exciting.
I have the hardcover
This year's beach reading. The style took me a few stories before I really got into it, but he's one of those short story writers the sum of whose stories add up greater than the parts. Plus I'm on a learn about Philly history kick.
These short stories are brief and refreshing. Like photographs, although some are so obscure and objective I can hardly tell what's going on. A great way to clean your mind.
John O'Hara is a worthy read. His short fiction far outpaces his novels, but he is funny and weird and I really like him.
O'Hara is an underappreciated, and oft-overlooked, part of great American literature.
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John Henry O'Hara was an American writer born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He initially became known for his short stories and later became a best-selling novelist whose works include Appointment in Samarra and BUtterfield 8. He was particularly known for an uncannily accurate ear for dialogue. O'Hara was a keen observer of social status and class differences, and wrote frequently about the social...more
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