Stories for Winter: And Nights by the Fire

by Simon Thomas (Introduction), Edith Wharton (Contributor), Mary Angela Dickens (Contributor)

Stories for Winter is a collection of short stories that take their inspiration from this cold, snowy season, whether it’s winter holidays, weather-related predicaments or seasonal celebrations. In keeping with the spirit of the Women Writers series, the stories are penned by authors whose writing originally appeared in books and magazines in the twentieth century.

Launched in 2020, the British Library Women Writers series is a curated collection of novels and anthologies by female authors who enjoyed broad, popular appeal in their day. In a century during which the role of women in society changed radically, their fictional heroines highlight women’s experience of life inside and outside the home through the decades in these rich, insightful and evocative stories

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Christmas, Classics, British Literature

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2023

Reviews

[Diane Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of this collection is a little misleading, not all of them are winter stories. I chose to read this because I wanted to check out some of the authors I wasn't familiar with, and to read a couple by authors I love, like Elizabeth Taylor and Sylvia Townsend Warner. A couple of the stories were excellent, some not good at all, and others just so-so. One I even skipped after a few pages. Very uneven collection, but it did show me who to avoid in the future.

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of these were good, but not great. My favourits were two that I already had in other collections; The Thames Do read Out, (Elizabeth Taylor) and The Prisoner, Elizabeth Berridge. Short Stories are tricky things. A nice collection to have, and perhaps dip into now and again when the mood takes me.

[Daniel Myatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure if I missed something here, but I didn't find the common thread of these stories and they didn't all come across as wintery.

What I did love was The Thames Spreads Out by Elizabeth Taylor (who was my author find of 2023) and I did enjoy Edith Wharton's story, The Reckoning a great deal.

As I always say, a mixed bag of tales.

[maven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of these so-called "winter" stories seem to have absolutely nothing to do with winter, other than a single mention if that. (And November is fall, not winter.) Some of the stories are fine in and of themselves, but they don't make sense in a winter collection, and a number of them seem to be about women aligning with "traditional" patriarchal expectations.

Perhaps not surprising given the series consultant is a man who has the audacity to decide that these represent the "experiences of women." Do tell me more about what it means to be a woman, sir, because clearly actual women can't possibly know as much as an expert like yourself.

[Iulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favourites:

“A Cup of Tea” (Katherine Mansfield)
“Ann Lee’s” (Elizabeth Bowen)
“The Snowstorm” (Violet M. MacDonald)
“The Prisoner” (Elizabeth Berridge)
“The Thames Spread Out” (Elizabeth Taylor)
“The Cut Finger” (Frances Bellerby)

A good few were unremarkable, I thought, but still on the whole, this anthology is a great choice for a quiet, cosy afternoon. And even though winter itself doesn’t feature prominently in many of these stories, they’re still best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a warm blanket.

[Ashley Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cosy little anthology of strange tales, some better than others but all thought provoking. All female writers which were very interesting to read in succession.

[Gina House · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟 An interesting wintry mix of short stories by classic women writers and, as the title says, perfect for 'nights by the fire'.

I wish I loved this book more. I love short stories, but I'm not a huge fan of melancholy and somber themes. I struggle with depression during the wintertime, so I was looking for something a little less bleak.

But, on the plus side, I loved the descriptions of the cold, white, beautiful landscapes and I found a few more authors to love, such as the three Elizabeths: Banks, Berridge and Bowen (I already enjoy Elizabeth Taylor's books!).

My favorite titles in this collection were:

My Fellow Travelers by Mary Angela Dickens
A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield
The Woman Who Was So Tired by Elizabeth Banks
Anna Lee's by Elizabeth Bowen
The Cold by Sylvia Townsend Warner
The Prisoner by Elizabeth Berridge
The Thames Spread Out by Elizabeth Taylor

For some reason, both the first story by Edith Wharton and the last by Angela Carter were slow and difficult reads for me. I'm not sure why I had such a hard time getting into both of these stories, but I just could not get into them.

Overall, I'm glad I read this British Library Women Writers' collection. The cover design is perfect for the season. And, as always, I enjoy Simon Thomas' introductions.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like any collection of stories, this one was a mixed bag. If you're picking this one up, expecting a series of heartwarming Christmas tales, thought, you're bound to be badly disappointed. These are winter tales in only the loosest terms. The rest of the title "and nights by the fire" conjures up cozy images of the reader or the inhabitants within the stories snuggled up and in for a good time and neither is really true.

Some standout stories were The Reckoning by Edith Wharton, My Fellow Travelers by Monica Dickens, My Life With R.H. Macy by Shirley Jackson, The Prisoner by Elizabeth Berridge, and The Thames Spread Out by Elizabeth Taylor.

I would say that the overall mood of these stories was melancholy or serious and staid, at the very least. Not very hopeful. That brought down my enjoyment level.

[Helen Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

How fitting to read in my wintery home and frosty train rides. Beautifully evocative tales of women, mainly in domestic spaces. Stand out has to be Edith Wharton and Katherine Mansfield. My top writers from last year too. Damn they can create something. Also, such a pleasure to read a carefully and thematically curated anthology (after teaching an utter b/s one for igcse). final note to say, can barely concentrate this holiday, so really grateful to read these little vignettes when I can.

[Inna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good collection of short stories by female authors, but, as the other readers have noticed, the title is misleading- not sure what most of the stories have to do with winter and nights by the fire.

[Michala · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing

[JacquiWine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the past few years, the British Library has been doing sterling work with its excellent Women Writers series, reissuing lesser-known novels by female authors from the 20th century for modern-day readers to enjoy. Alongside the novels, the series includes a handful of carefully curated anthologies, one of which – Stories for Winter and Nights by the Fire – I’m reviewing here.

Sometimes these types of collections can be a little uneven, with a few mediocre stories lurking between the gems. In this instance, however, thirteen of the fourteen featured stories are excellent; only one of the tales, November Fair by Kate Roberts, feels somewhat superfluous and less polished than the rest.

Overall then, this is a marvellous collection of winter-themed stories, full of snowy days, chilly nights and the evocative atmosphere these conditions tend to evoke. It’s also a beautifully produced book, the literary equivalent of a box of chocolates, featuring perennial favourites, new discoveries and the occasional left-field choice. With contributions from esteemed writers such as Edith Wharton, Shirley Jackson, Elizabeth Bowen and Angela Carter to lesser-known contemporaries including Elizabeth Bibesco, Violet M. MacDonald and Frances Bellerby, this delightful anthology showcases tales in a range of styles – from humorous sketches to poignant encounters and partings to spine-tingling ghost stories to haunt your dreams. Inevitably, different stories will resonate with different readers depending on their tastes, but there really does appear to be something for everyone here!

The collection gets off to an excellent start with Edith Wharton’s The Reckoning, in which a married couple, Julia and Clement, have vowed to remain together only as long as their relationship is in ‘complete accord’. If one party falls out of love, they may ask to be released from the bond. The agreement was suggested by Julia, largely due to the breakdown of her previous marriage, and she didn’t want to feel trapped in an unfulfilling relationship again. But when Clement becomes attracted to another woman – the young, attractive Una, whom he meets when giving a talk – Julia is devastated and shocked.

Now that it was over, she sickened to find herself alive. She looked about her, trying to recover her hold on reality. Her identity seemed to be slipping from her, as it disappears in a physical swoon. “This is my room–-this is my house,” she heard herself saying. Her room? Her house? She could almost hear the walls laugh back at her. (p. 18)

As this brilliantly observed story unfolds, Julia comes to a crushing realisation. Now she knows just how her first husband must have felt when she left him for Clement…

Relationships also form the core of a few other favourites, not least The Prisoner by Elizabeth Berridge, whose novella, The Story of Stanley Brent, is a poignant gem. In The Prisoner, a lonely, middle-aged spinster gradually forms a touching, tentative bond with Erich, one of the German prisoners of war working in a nearby field. At first, the woman is resentful of the soldiers’ presence near her home, but as she gets to know Erich, bonding with him over shared cups of tea and stories of his family, her heart softens considerably. Their parting, when it comes, is awkward and charged with unspoken emotion, tapping into an earlier loss that still feels raw. It’s a very affecting story, beautifully observed.

She stood and looked at it (the door) for a long time, then went quietly to her room and took down her hair before the mirror. As she brushed it with long practised strokes tears flowed down her cheeks; she could not stop them. (p. 161)

There’s also The Snowstorm (by Violet M. MacDonald), one of the most intriguing and atmospheric stories here. Following a chance encounter at an inn, a man persuades a woman to spend the night at his house while his wife is away. For some reason, he senses a kindred spirit in this woman, someone who will listen and help him find a solution to a dilemma he is currently wrestling with. It’s all very mysterious, and at one point, the woman wonders if this man might be mad or some kind of criminal. Nevertheless, it will be an experience – an adventure she might come to regret passing up. A hazardous drive through a wonderfully evocative snowstorm ensues in this enigmatic story of a fleeting attraction and a night of discovery…

To read the rest of my review, please visit:
https://jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2024...

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended for readers who like slice-of-life style stories. Lots of beautiful writing, but, as with most short story collections, a bit of a mixed bag. Some stories tended too much toward meandering and ambiguous for my personal taste. Still, a few highlights: I enjoyed the gentle humor of The Cold by Sylvia Townsend Warner; The Prisoner by Elizabeth Berridge was a lovely story about human connections between a British woman and a German prisoner of war; and The Thames Spread Out by Elizabeth Taylor was a nice story about a "kept" woman deciding to better her life. I do wish that more of the stories had winter as an integral part of the story rather than being merely incidental as a setting. Overall, a nice collection, but not as strong as Stories for Summer, also from the British Library Women Writers series.

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this around Christmas 2023, didn't read it fast enough and then it wasn't "winter" anymore (such as it is in Southern California) and then I set it aside to read during the next winter because I thought these would all be winter ghost-y stories and better to read by the light of a Christmas tree. But they are not winter ghost stories at all! Rather, they are short stories set during winter written largely in the early 20th century. I did enjoy the read, but it was not as wintery as I might have hoped. This is the second short story collection I have read recently that ended on Angela Carter, weirdly.

I did love the physical book so much it's worth noting. Just a great print and a book that it made me happy to hold.

[Estella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to read this collection of short stories, which brings together several renowned British female authors such as Edith Wharton, Elizabeth Bowen and Shirley Jackson. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. I gave it three stars because, although the stories are for the most part well-written, they are also gloomy and depressing. I am at an age and stage in life where I want to feel either entertained, uplifted or inspired (or all three!) by what I read, and I experienced none of these emotions during or after reading this book. Very disappointing.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found most of the stories in this collection fairly odd, I don't read very many short stories, but I found most of these felt like a slice of life. You were getting a very small snippet of a bigger picture, and for many, I felt like I didn't get long enough to understand the characters or what was happening.

I also felt quite distant from most of the characters, which affected my investment in the stories.

[Sadie Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well i was given a challenge to read a short stories book and did, I'm not a fan of short stories. I found the book challenging. Well written and interesting, but strange and at times difficult to understand. I'm sorry to say I still remain no fan of short stories, but I'm sure others will disagree with me.

[Zoe Radley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s ok, not a great collection but an ok one. A few of the stories are actually quite forgettable but one stood out for me and that was the one written by Angela Dickens a perfect ghostly winters tale. A bit disappointed with Shirley Jackson.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Stories for Christmas and the Festive Season which is part of the same series, but this one didn't quite hit the mark. There were a few really enjoyable stories, but many that didn't really engage me, so it took me ages to read.

[Arlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting collection of short stories, all from a bygone era, and something of a mixed bag. Some are frustratingly oblique, some are engaging, wistful and charming. I really liked the ones set in New York; The Woman Who Was So Tired was probably my favourite.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was exactly what I needed right now. Wonderful stories that stay with you, from among the best writers of the 20th century.

[Mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3,5/5

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Either the stories needed to be better overall or there needed to be more of a unifying theme. This was a collection out of desperation.

[Paul Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a great fan of the British Library's Women Writers books. This is a perfect bedside collection of short stories by writers spanning the first 75 years of the 20th century.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Catie · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5 Stars**

[Margaret Conmey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some excellent stories and 2or 3 very poor but worthwhile reading for the stories by Elizabeth Berridge ( I had not heard of her ), Edith Wharton and Elizabeth Banks in particular

[Joanne Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mix of seasonal short stories written by women. I would recommend this book to those that enjoy short stories, because some of them stayed with me, while others did not.

[Stephanie Miceli · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice mix of 14 winter time short stories from some great writers such as Katherine Mansfield, Shirley Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Edith Wharton, plus some lesser known writers.

[Greensnowfall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edith Wharton’s story “steals the show” right off the bet. No other one compares, but a good compilation overall.