I've decided to return to the blogosphere to write about a topic that seems to be at the core of my life... books. This blog will feature the writers and works that have proved important to me over the years. They've either irritated, provoked, entertained, amused, or fascinated me for any variety of reasons, and over time we will see if you agree. Today's topic is some of my favorite short story writers. The short story seems to be losing steam as a popular form, but I grew up on short stories and it has occurred to me that many of them have influenced me, especially during my especially awkward teenage years. So, in no particular order:
Arthur Conan Doyle - Amazing how famous this guy became through the invention of one iconic character and one genre of story telling. Yes, he wrote other things, but really, how many can you name? He goes as far as Sherlock Holmes can carry him, and that's pretty far. Is there a more fascinating or engaging character in all of literature? He has become a true cultural icon. The fact remains that Doyle spins some great stories around Holmes and I don't think he would have become the timeless legend he is without high quality stories to support his character development. There will be a future blog about all things Holmes, but for now, "The Final Problem", A Study in Scarlet", "His Last Bow", "The Adventure of the Speckled Band", all from different periods in Doyle's career should support my point.
Geoffrey Chaucer- I know, I know, it's barely recognizable as English in the original, but it's worth figuring out how to read it. "The Pardoner's Tale", "The Miller's Tale", "The Nun's Priest's Tale, and of course "The Wife of Bath's Tale", are all classics for a reason.
James Thurber- By now, you've figured out that I'm bouncing all over time and place, and so it goes. Thurber is downright funny. I am partial to dogs, but Thurber's collection of dog stories will entertain you regardless of your feelings about animals. And he's no one trick pony, having written plenty of stories that have nothing to do with canine antics.
Raymond Carver- reminds me of a painter. His spare use of just the right words strikes the same chord in me as when an artist uses just the right shade of a color, or density of a brushstroke to refine a painting. "Where I'm Calling From", "What we Talk about When we Talk About Love", "A Small, Good Thing", "A Calm Talk" are all masterpieces that demonstrate the power of less is more.
Herman Melville- I know, I know, what the heck is the author of Moby Dick doing in a post about short stories? Well, he wrote, what for my money, is one of the greatest short stories ever written, "Bartleby the Scrivener". It's an amazingly powerful story about passive resistance and the pathology of extreme human behavior. "I would prefer not to", is one of my favorite literary quotes.
Edgar Allan Poe- Just say short story, and most people think - Poe. He is truly a master of the craft, with a multitude of stories that are actually famous. To think there are so few people that read, and even less that can rattle off a list of short stories they've read, but almost everyone has heard of "The Telltale Heart", "The Black Cat", or "The Pit and the Pendulum". Heck, "The Cask of Amontillado" was just referenced on an episode of NCIS for crying out loud. "Murder in the Rue Morgue" is another of my personal favorites. Poe is often credited for inventing the modern detective story, I don't know if that is true, suppose it depends on how one defines "modern".
Jack London- An exceptional, naturalistic writer, Mr. London has fallen out of popularity in the last twenty years or so. This may have to do with his personality, as anti-Semitic communists are not on the top of anyone's popular lists in America. However, my view is that the foibles of the person are irrelevant. How does their work stack up on paper? By that measure London is as good or better than anyone in the short story arena. "The White Silence" and "To Build a Fire" are fine examples of his work. When I went to junior high school everyone had to read "To Build a Fire". I have no idea if that is true anymore, but I hope it still is.
Kate Chopin- "The Awakening" is one of the most heartrending and brilliant short stories I've ever read. It's a shame her life was so short and we don't have more work from her. What we have is underappreciated and underrated. She is a marvelous writer.
The Russians- There is no way to make a list of great short story writers without Chekhov, Gogol, Gorsky and Turgenev. Many consider Chekhov the greatest short story writer ever. I certainly admire "The Woman with the White Dog" and "The Black Monk". That said, I think the best Russian short story may be Nikolai Gogol's "The Overcoat". And Turgenev's "The Country Doctor" is a very moving story as well. More about Russian writers in future posts.
Collected Short Stories- As hard as it is to write one good short story, imagine writing several that are connected by theme, or a narrative arch, and publishing the result in book length form. Many authors have done this to varying degrees of success. My three favorites are: James Joyce- "The Dubliners" - C'mon now, "Araby", "A Little Cloud", and "The Dead" are three GREAT short stories and they are all part of this one collection. I have a minority opinion that Joyce was more of a genius in the short form that as a novelist. Sherwood Anderson- "Winesburg, Ohio" is a singular work of magnificent quality. "The Untold Lie" may be the great American short story. This collection is as good a view into early 20th century American life as there is. And Ernest Hemingway- "A Movable Feast" is the book many consider the best unified collection of stories ever written. I don't know if I'd go that far, but it is gripping, funny, sad, and provocative. It is a short textbook on human nature and life experience. Hemingway deserves the last word in this blog, as his canon of short stories is as high quality as there is. If you don't believe me try "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" or "The Short, Happy Life of Frances Macomber". or "The Killers". Hollywood has found enough meat in "The Killers" to have made it into a movie several times.
That's all for now, except I forgot G.K. Chesterton, whose series of short stories about the ever curious Father Brown, kept me entertained when I was young, and still give me something when I go back to them.
Some of this will get additional attention in the weeks or months ahead if the Lord is willing and the creek doesn't rise. Coming attractions: The Greatest North American novel, More on Russian writers, the Renaissance, Most Influential Books- part 1.
Well, you probably know a lot more about short stories than I do, particularly more modern ones. I prefer 19th century to 20th and I have only read one book of short stories from the 21st century I'll get to in a minute. Holmes, of course, I revere. Of those you name I love Thurber and Poe and like London. I really could not get into Chaucer (or Boccaccio), except for the language aspect and him as an historical figure. Some Hemingway short stories were among his best work (though I'm not a big fan of his). I read long ago some of the Russians and really don't remember what I read or thought, except I know I liked some Pushkin stories. You don't mention Tolstoy, but I can't remember if I read him either. Maybe one. I never heard of Kate Chopin and did not like Anderson at all (I tried; couldn't do it), Joyce only a few stories, though at least I made it through. Don't hate me but I didn't like Bartleby much either. I can't really comment on Carver except that I know he it has been revealed that much of his success was due to his editor, whose editing was more like co-writing. Intuitively, I doubt I would like him. You did not mention Cheever either. Also surprised you did not mention Robert Howard or Lovecraft. I also like Isaac Asimov, in fact, preferred his short stories to his novels.
ReplyDeleteNow, for my century: Washington Irving, Kipling, de Maupassant, Bierce, O'Henry and, this will surprise you, Stephen Crane. Not so much Twain. My favorite short stories are The Devil and Daniel Webster by Benet (there's an accent mark somewhere, I think) and The Interlopers by Saki.
But my all time favorite short story writer overall is Damon Runyon, who never published a novel but never wrote a short story I did not love. I can't forget Jim Thompson and Chandler. Last, I started three days ago and finished today a remarkable book of short stories called The Lost Books of Odysseus by a computer programmer named Zack Mason. I thought I would hate it but gave it a shot because of the subject matter. In 44 short stories I thought he stumbled twice, which is remarkable, especially given my lack of patience with fiction. The rest was luminous, lyrical and evocative. It's now my favorite fiction in many years, though you might have to be familiar with the Odyssey to get it. Not sure.
Appreciate the comment. Thought about many of the writers you mention, but I had to draw the line somewhere or I'd still be writing. Look to the not too distant future for Robert Howard to get some much deserved attention.
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