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Early Stories by Tennessee Williams
Early Stories by Tennessee Williams is an edited collection of thirty-one previously unpublished short stories written in the 1930s, when Tennessee Williams was living in the Midwest during a tumultuous period for the nation and himself. The stories highlight aspects of the writer’s biography relative to his young adult years in St. Louis, Columbia, and the Missouri Ozarks, offering insight into the relationships between the author, his family, and close friends. The influence of proletarian fiction and leftist ideas are evident in Williams’s stories of the Great Depression, as are themes of sexual turmoil and inner passions inspired by authors like D. H. Lawrence.
In notes for each story, additional context is provided regarding locations, occupations, and individuals. All of this enriches a critical understanding of Tennessee Williams’s major works such as The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Night of the Iguana, and Suddenly Last Summer.
In notes for each story, additional context is provided regarding locations, occupations, and individuals. All of this enriches a critical understanding of Tennessee Williams’s major works such as The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Night of the Iguana, and Suddenly Last Summer.
328 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2025
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About the author
Tennessee Williams
755 books3,708 followersThomas Lanier Williams III, better known by the nickname Tennessee Williams, was a major American playwright of the twentieth century who received many of the top theatrical awards for his work. He moved to New Orleans in 1939 and changed his name to "Tennessee," the state of his father's birth.
Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, after years of obscurity, at age 33 he became famous with the success of The Glass Menagerie (1944) in New York City. This play closely reflected his own unhappy family background. It was the first of a string of successes, including A Streetcar Named Desire (1947), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955), Sweet Bird of Youth (1959), and The Night of the Iguana (1961). With his later work, he attempted a new style that did not appeal to audiences. His drama A Streetcar Named Desire is often numbered on short lists of the finest American plays of the 20th century, alongside Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night and Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.
Much of Williams' most acclaimed work has been adapted for the cinema. He also wrote short stories, poetry, essays and a volume of memoirs. In 1979, four years before his death, Williams was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.
From Wikipedia
Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, after years of obscurity, at age 33 he became famous with the success of The Glass Menagerie (1944) in New York City. This play closely reflected his own unhappy family background. It was the first of a string of successes, including A Streetcar Named Desire (1947), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955), Sweet Bird of Youth (1959), and The Night of the Iguana (1961). With his later work, he attempted a new style that did not appeal to audiences. His drama A Streetcar Named Desire is often numbered on short lists of the finest American plays of the 20th century, alongside Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night and Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.
Much of Williams' most acclaimed work has been adapted for the cinema. He also wrote short stories, poetry, essays and a volume of memoirs. In 1979, four years before his death, Williams was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.
From Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 20, 2025
A collection of “slice of life” stories that do not take long to read at all, making it hard to lose your spot or interest. Heavily feature themes that are easy to spot in his most popular works. The writing is brilliant as always but I do think the selection can feel a bit repetitive.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange of my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange of my honest review.
June 22, 2025
A collection of early short stories by Tennessee Williams seemed like something that would be right up my alley and, in many ways, it was.
I have always been a huge fan of TW’s work and even directed some of his short plays about eight years ago. His short stories, a collection of about 30 in the case of this book, offer early insight into the mind of the man who would go on to be one of the most influential playwrights of his generation.
I read these over the period of about a month – much longer than it usually takes me to read a book – and I think this disjointed dipping in and out did not help my appreciation for the stories which, naturally, are beautifully written but are, thematically, quite similar.
We see a lot of Williams’s favoured topics in this collection – overbearing mothers, abusive fathers, the struggle of the artist and listlessness of a ‘normal’ job. Almost every aspect of the human condition is on display here and I would urge any reader to not necessarily read the whole book in a short period, but read each story in one sitting in order to truly appreciate the intricacies of each.
Some of my favourites included: ‘Stair to the Roof’, ‘The Caterpillar Dogs’, ‘Apt. F, 3rd Flo. So.’, ‘Nirvana’, ‘Souvenir for Bennie and Eva’, ‘Byron, the Campus Poet’, ‘An Afternoon of for Death’, ‘They Go Like a Thistle, He Said’, and ‘Ate Toadstools but Didn’t Quite Die’.
The short glossary at the end of the book provides some historical and biographical context for each story which gives an idea of just the level of meaning that Williams imbues in each word.
I will likely read these again, but at a time when I can complete each story in one sitting.
My thanks to the University of Iowa Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have always been a huge fan of TW’s work and even directed some of his short plays about eight years ago. His short stories, a collection of about 30 in the case of this book, offer early insight into the mind of the man who would go on to be one of the most influential playwrights of his generation.
I read these over the period of about a month – much longer than it usually takes me to read a book – and I think this disjointed dipping in and out did not help my appreciation for the stories which, naturally, are beautifully written but are, thematically, quite similar.
We see a lot of Williams’s favoured topics in this collection – overbearing mothers, abusive fathers, the struggle of the artist and listlessness of a ‘normal’ job. Almost every aspect of the human condition is on display here and I would urge any reader to not necessarily read the whole book in a short period, but read each story in one sitting in order to truly appreciate the intricacies of each.
Some of my favourites included: ‘Stair to the Roof’, ‘The Caterpillar Dogs’, ‘Apt. F, 3rd Flo. So.’, ‘Nirvana’, ‘Souvenir for Bennie and Eva’, ‘Byron, the Campus Poet’, ‘An Afternoon of for Death’, ‘They Go Like a Thistle, He Said’, and ‘Ate Toadstools but Didn’t Quite Die’.
The short glossary at the end of the book provides some historical and biographical context for each story which gives an idea of just the level of meaning that Williams imbues in each word.
I will likely read these again, but at a time when I can complete each story in one sitting.
My thanks to the University of Iowa Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 1, 2025
Early Stories by Tennessee Williams offered a fascinating a diverse collection of tales which are interesting to read in their own right as well as from the point of view of foreshadowing his later, major writings. Most are slice-of-life vignettes and character studies that offer an intriguing glimpse of a wide range of characters and situations. As always with such collections, certain stories will appeal more to different readers, but it is such a wide mix, there is sure to be something here for every reader to enjoy. If you like short stories, I recommend this collection even if you are not already familiar with Tennessee Williams' plays, as you do not need to know those to appreciate these tales, though for those who do, the short stories will offer an additional layer of interest. I am giving this book 4.5 stars.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews