Classic Love Stories

by Becky Brown

A meticulously chosen collection of stories about love in all its guises.

Here is a treasure trove of love stories. O. Henry brings comedy with his tale of a busy broker working too hard to remember that he’s actually married his adored young wife. There’s Anton Chekhov’s famous story about true love and devotion, The Lady with the Dog and Katherine Mansfield writes touchingly about unrequited love in Mr. and Mrs. Dove . With stories spanning first love to enduring love in old age, from infatuation to heartbreak told by some of the best writers, Classic Love Stories makes a perfect gift.

Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, cloth-bound, pocket-sized classics with ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is edited and introduced by Becky Brown.

Genres: Classics, Romance, Short Stories

368 pages, Hardcover

Published February 6, 2024

Reviews

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of short stories from famous and not so famous writers, some I’d read before and others new to me. Checkhov, Dostoyevsky, Elizabeth Taylor, Carson McCullers, Katherine Mansfield, Kate Chopin and more. The love stories are for the most part not lovey dovey romance, they’re more than that. Misplaced passions, affairs, a few of these stories have cruel endings. I really enjoyed reading this book, many of the stories I read so fast, they were so good. I think the standout for me is The Lees of Happiness by F Scott Fitzgerald, a story of true devotion, beautifully written.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story collections are always quite hard to review, as I will always find them a little uneven, especially when there are a number of different authors. Short Stories can be hard to get tight, but for the most part these work well. They often come across as melancholy rather than romantic, which given the medium is no surprise really.

I particularly enjoyed Flesh by Elizabeth Taylor, The Fishermen of Pass Christian by Alice Dunbar Nelson, and The Lady with the Dog by Anton Chekhov. Well out together, and these always come in handsome editions.

*Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

[Megan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprised of 14 amazing short stories, Classic Loves Stories is a delightful anthology of love stories by some of literature's finest authors from Zora Neale Hurston to D.H. Lawrence. With Valentine's Day nearing, Classic Love Stories was a perfect read. Each short story has its own unique charm that will bring a smile to any reader and make you see love in many new ways.

Overall, Classic Short Stories was a fun and lovely read and a must-read for anyone this Valentine's (both couples and singles alike).

Thank you, NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful anthology of short stories by many of the great and the good of the literary world and some less familiar. Romance is not the preserve of the young, and this collection offers up a mirror to the various times in a person’s life when they might experience some of the heartfelt emotions depicted in these stories.
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for granting this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the selection of stories, specially the one titled “The Gilded Six-Bits” by Zora Neale Hudson. Aa a non native English speaker, I found it a bit challenging to follow some stories given the archaisms. But all in all, it was a good practice for not rushing a story and having a good dictionary at hand. Also—- I was naively thinking about conventional love stories, they are not. And that was beautiful. To be reminded of all the kinds of love.

[Eva Blackhawk · Rating 3 out of 5]

some stories were better than others of course. its physically a very cute little book. many classics. you do get a good variety of 'love' but I still think it could be explored more

[Manonadore · Rating 4 out of 5]

In France, short-story collections is quite a hard type of books to sell, probably because not many famous authors have risked it since the XIXth Century. However, a collection such as this one could find its audience more easily (and will find it in English speaking countries), because it appeals to the Classics community. The curation is precise and interesting through and through, though very centred around English and American authors (it is a not a default, just a remark). I really enjoyed the amount of texts written by women alongside big names in Litterature such as Fitzgerald or Chekhov, and was really pleasantly surprised by Elizabeth Taylor’s story, since I did not know she was a published author.
The collection flows very organically, the readers feels like reading a study of love from the XXth Century, how it was lived and perceived. Such beautiful language is displayed all along the pages, with my personal favourite being the discovery of Alice Dunbar Nelson’s writing. I will definitely seek out more of her work. Overall, it is a very good anthology, carefully put together.

[Chris Chanona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well curated book of short stories. All of the authors are well known and many are renowned for their short story writing: Katherine Mansfield, Elizabeth Taylor, Anton Chekhov, F. Scott Fitzgerald , O. Henry, H. G. Wells, Kate Chopin, Fyodor Dostoevsky, D. H. Lawrence. to name a few.

Some stories stand out: Chekov’s The Lady with the Dog, Katherine Mansfield, Mr. and Mrs. Dove, Elizabeth Taylor, Flesh.

My criticisms would be that I have read many of these before though I still enjoyed reading them again and I would have liked to see stories by James Joyce and Dylan Thomas, two of the best short story writers of the 20th century.

I read a proof copy provided by NetGalley and the publishers.

[Sue Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Love Stories is a beautiful compilation, bringing together authors such as Chekhov, H.G. wells and D. H. Lawrence. Each of the stories, though all having a theme of love, are very different. Elizabeth Taylor’s Flesh tells us of a holiday get together of two middle aged people whilst The Lees of Happiness by F. Scott Fitzgerald is about the long term devotion of a wife to her husband who she to care for owing to tragic circumstances. Some are very short and sweet like The Romance of a Busy Broker by O. Henry whilst others are longer and more complex. They all deserve a place in this book and can be enjoyed on their own or devoured in one sitting. I can thoroughly recommend this book, it has something for everyone.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 some real short story treats in here, a couple not so much

[Happy Reader 2022 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of love stories from well known authors. Going to purchase the little book to add to my Macmillan Collectors Library collection and reach each February.