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50 Greatest Short Stories
50 Greatest Short Stories is a selection from the best of the world’s short fiction, bringing together writings by great masters of the genre. Carefully picked for their timeless quality, readers are sure to be delighted by the inclusion of such favourites as ‘The Gift of the Magi’, ‘The Lady with the Dog’, ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’, ‘Rain’ and ‘Mrs Packletide’s Tiger’, to name but a few.
This outstanding and wide-ranging anthology of stories is a collector’s item, designed for readers to refresh their acquaintance with some of the world’s finest writing and for newer readers to be introduced to it.
Anton Chekov, Charles Dickens, Katherine Mansfield, Guy de Maupassant, F. Scott Fitzgerald, H. Rider Haggard, O. Henry, Rudyard Kipling, W.W. Jacobs, Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence, Saki, Jerome K. Jerome, H.G. Wells, Kate Chopin, Ambrose Bierce, Jack London, Frank Stockton, Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen Leacock, James Joyce, Bram Stoker, Joseph Conrad, M. R. James, W. Somerset Maugham, R. L. Stevenson.
This outstanding and wide-ranging anthology of stories is a collector’s item, designed for readers to refresh their acquaintance with some of the world’s finest writing and for newer readers to be introduced to it.
Anton Chekov, Charles Dickens, Katherine Mansfield, Guy de Maupassant, F. Scott Fitzgerald, H. Rider Haggard, O. Henry, Rudyard Kipling, W.W. Jacobs, Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence, Saki, Jerome K. Jerome, H.G. Wells, Kate Chopin, Ambrose Bierce, Jack London, Frank Stockton, Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen Leacock, James Joyce, Bram Stoker, Joseph Conrad, M. R. James, W. Somerset Maugham, R. L. Stevenson.
600 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2015
6076 people are currently reading
1368 people want to read
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May 26, 2018
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If you were ever offered a book that claims to consist of 50 greatest short stories, won’t you be apprehensive in buying it? Or would you not reconsider, even once, the leap of faith that you’d be taking to buy it? Wouldn’t you think over, and over, and over the fact that how could someone else choose 50 ‘greatest’ stories for you? Wouldn’t you find it dubious to dive into an ocean of 50 stories that are hand-picked for you by someone else?
I did. I very much did, I felt uncertain, when I first saw the book- 50 GREATEST SHORT STORIES. I looked at it, picked it up, turned it, read the names of the authors- Anton Chekhov, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, Edgar Alan Poe, and then the ones I, due to my narrow horizon, had never heard of- Ambrose Bierce, D.H. Lawrence, Kate Chopin, and wondered, wondered if I wouldn’t regret spending my money and time on it. But as they say, you’d never know what it holds for you, until you open it (here, until you read it,) I had no choice but to give up on my what-ifs and take a plunge. So, yeah, I did buy it, read it, and thus this review.
Before I tell you what new I discovered through this book, let me tell you the time I took to finish this average-sized book. It took me a month and a half, more than I took to complete ‘O Jerusalem!’ and ‘IT’, to finish this an only almost-600 pages book. Professional commitments and laziness and life happened in between, stretching the reading time this long.
Now, let’s start with the question, most important of all- if this book is worth your few bucks and time? A very easy yes from my side. I gave it a rating of 5 on Goodreads, and that is for the obvious reasons, which I will tell you about in the forthcoming paragraphs.
To say that these stories are the best 50 ever written would be wrong. There must have been many more, written with a more intriguing style, based on a more intricate plot, narrated with the smoother flow, yet most of these 50, if not the best, must be among the best short fictions of history.
But, choice is highly subjective. What fascinates me in a story for a reason, might make you repulse it for the very same reason. What works for me might not work for you, and vice-versa. I have read comments, where people claim to having read more brilliant stories than this collection, and yes, they must have. With umpteen stacks of short fiction out there, the chances are bleak that these 50 are the greatest. But, as I said before too, these, for me, have to be among the greatest.
With this book, I got a chance to familiarize myself with the authors- Edgar Allan Poe, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Guy De Maupassant, Anton Chekhov- I so wanted to read, from quite some time now. And what better way is there to start with an author other than his/her short stories, right? Some of them surprised me, by not making me feel the way I thought I’d feel; while some amazed me, in a good way.
Better way to drill down this book would be to go story by story or writer by writer. With 50 stories in the store and more than 15 writers to discuss about, I’ll not cover each story and every author; only the ones that I loved or did not like that much.
So, first of my hands are down, and head lowered to Edgar Allan Poe. That man held the wand in his hand, created a world so dark and piercing that you see only what he makes you see, feel what he makes you feel; you become his puppet for the moment, and obey the master as a puppet should. You feel the chill through your spine, cold on your palms, and shivers on your arms. All these 3 stories- The Pit and the Pendulum, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Black Cat- made me live the horror seclusively in the dark. Though, I loved the latter two better than the first one.
I always wanted to read him, and these short stories have only avouched for his longer works.
Anton Chekhov was another name I was excited about. His ‘The Lady with the Dog’ and ‘The Lottery Ticket’ have turned me into his admirer. The first one is the story I had heard a lot about, but, if you ask me now, I liked the latter one better than the first. It certainly was coincidental, but The Lady with the Dog had similarities to Tolstoy’s epic Anna Karenina. In a way, while reading TLWTD, I relived a much shorter version of Anna Karenina. And yes, I now love both of them for their uniqueness and superficial similarity.
His ‘The Bet’ was a wonderful one too. Yet, ‘The Lottery Ticket’ took it all away from me.
Now, the best discovery that I made while reading this collection was of an author with military background. His name is Ambrose Bierce. I hadn’t heard of him until I read him in here. Out of 50, four are his stories- ‘An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’, ‘A Horseman in the sky’, ‘The Boarded Window’ and ‘A Resumed Identity’. Among the whole collection, I liked all of his stories, but the latter two- ‘A Boarded Window’ and ‘A Resumed identity’ are two of my favorites. ABW reminded me the power of a twisted end, of the way a line can explain the whole story. I’m warning you here, keep yourself from jumping directly to the ending of the story; by doing so, you’d be preparing yourself for one of the worst self-inflicted pains.
If you haven’t read him, please go ahead and do read. And if you already have, you are among the lucky folks, aren’t you?
Another new author and a new story I learnt about are Frank Stockton and his ‘The Lady or the Tiger?’. This story, when I finished reading it, illuminated a path, taken not by many, while writing short stories. What that is, I would refrain from telling you, for I fear that any spillage on that part might ruin your enjoyment of the story.
Never heard of this one too? Go, get the whole story online (very easily,) and enjoy it.
The shortest story of 50 was a story of merely one and a half page; ‘My Financial Career’ by Stephen Leacock. Shortest it was, but was better than few longer ones in the book that I did not like much. It is another example that highlights the brevity at its best.
Then there were stories, about which I hadn’t heard of before, but they affirmed my belief on the power of short stories. The particular ones that I’d like to bring limelight on are ‘To Build A Fire’ by Jack London, ‘Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger’ by Saki, ‘Amy Foster’ by Joseph Conrad and ‘A School Story’ by M.R. James.
‘Amy Foster’ has even been adapted into a movie. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but the story is wonderfully narrated. ‘To Build A Fire’ was my second-last read of the book, ‘The Pit and the Pendulum’ being the last one, and what a story it was! It was one of the most engaging stories of the whole collection. Long it was, but when something is equally well-narrated, the length doesn’t really matter.
If you ask me, I’d say there were only a few stories that I did not like the way I liked many others; ‘The Valley of Spiders’ by H.G. Wells, ‘The Blind Man’ by D.H. Lawrence, ‘A chameleon’ by Anton Chekhov, ‘A Haunted House’ by Virginia Woolf and ‘The Fiddler’ by Herman Melville are few of them. Not that I hated them, but couldn’t come to like them much.
Now, another important question to ponder over is if this book is worth spending your money on? Well, that depends. When I saw this book, the way I could read all these stories without buying the book, was to take the pictures of the index and read them online. Each and every story of this book is available online. This, I haven’t checked by myself for every story, but, chances are high that you will find them out there, unlike full-fledged novels.
Then why did I spend my money on what I could have gotten for no money at all? My idea was, by the end of this book, I will either have a collection of stories that I can go back to anytime I want to, compare them whenever I want to, without having to look out for them online, or I will have a collection of stories that I will remember to never get back to, in future.
You definitely can skip the part of buying the book, and check for every story directly online. But for my own convenience in future, be it re-reading the stories, or comparing them, or checking them for one thing or the other, I wanted to have a such hardcopy.
The only suggestion I’d give to those who plan to read this book is- pick a story randomly from the index, and approach the entire book this way. When I proceeded with the stories chronologically, I found it hard and tedious and not-worth-my-time kind of journey. But the moment I started reading stories randomly, I, for some reason not known, started enjoying it. It might have been just me. But, if you find it difficult, like me, try the other way I mentioned. It ought to do the trick.
If you were ever offered a book that claims to consist of 50 greatest short stories, won’t you be apprehensive in buying it? Or would you not reconsider, even once, the leap of faith that you’d be taking to buy it? Wouldn’t you think over, and over, and over the fact that how could someone else choose 50 ‘greatest’ stories for you? Wouldn’t you find it dubious to dive into an ocean of 50 stories that are hand-picked for you by someone else?
I did. I very much did, I felt uncertain, when I first saw the book- 50 GREATEST SHORT STORIES. I looked at it, picked it up, turned it, read the names of the authors- Anton Chekhov, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, Edgar Alan Poe, and then the ones I, due to my narrow horizon, had never heard of- Ambrose Bierce, D.H. Lawrence, Kate Chopin, and wondered, wondered if I wouldn’t regret spending my money and time on it. But as they say, you’d never know what it holds for you, until you open it (here, until you read it,) I had no choice but to give up on my what-ifs and take a plunge. So, yeah, I did buy it, read it, and thus this review.
Before I tell you what new I discovered through this book, let me tell you the time I took to finish this average-sized book. It took me a month and a half, more than I took to complete ‘O Jerusalem!’ and ‘IT’, to finish this an only almost-600 pages book. Professional commitments and laziness and life happened in between, stretching the reading time this long.
Now, let’s start with the question, most important of all- if this book is worth your few bucks and time? A very easy yes from my side. I gave it a rating of 5 on Goodreads, and that is for the obvious reasons, which I will tell you about in the forthcoming paragraphs.
To say that these stories are the best 50 ever written would be wrong. There must have been many more, written with a more intriguing style, based on a more intricate plot, narrated with the smoother flow, yet most of these 50, if not the best, must be among the best short fictions of history.
But, choice is highly subjective. What fascinates me in a story for a reason, might make you repulse it for the very same reason. What works for me might not work for you, and vice-versa. I have read comments, where people claim to having read more brilliant stories than this collection, and yes, they must have. With umpteen stacks of short fiction out there, the chances are bleak that these 50 are the greatest. But, as I said before too, these, for me, have to be among the greatest.
With this book, I got a chance to familiarize myself with the authors- Edgar Allan Poe, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Guy De Maupassant, Anton Chekhov- I so wanted to read, from quite some time now. And what better way is there to start with an author other than his/her short stories, right? Some of them surprised me, by not making me feel the way I thought I’d feel; while some amazed me, in a good way.
Better way to drill down this book would be to go story by story or writer by writer. With 50 stories in the store and more than 15 writers to discuss about, I’ll not cover each story and every author; only the ones that I loved or did not like that much.
So, first of my hands are down, and head lowered to Edgar Allan Poe. That man held the wand in his hand, created a world so dark and piercing that you see only what he makes you see, feel what he makes you feel; you become his puppet for the moment, and obey the master as a puppet should. You feel the chill through your spine, cold on your palms, and shivers on your arms. All these 3 stories- The Pit and the Pendulum, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Black Cat- made me live the horror seclusively in the dark. Though, I loved the latter two better than the first one.
I always wanted to read him, and these short stories have only avouched for his longer works.
Anton Chekhov was another name I was excited about. His ‘The Lady with the Dog’ and ‘The Lottery Ticket’ have turned me into his admirer. The first one is the story I had heard a lot about, but, if you ask me now, I liked the latter one better than the first. It certainly was coincidental, but The Lady with the Dog had similarities to Tolstoy’s epic Anna Karenina. In a way, while reading TLWTD, I relived a much shorter version of Anna Karenina. And yes, I now love both of them for their uniqueness and superficial similarity.
His ‘The Bet’ was a wonderful one too. Yet, ‘The Lottery Ticket’ took it all away from me.
Now, the best discovery that I made while reading this collection was of an author with military background. His name is Ambrose Bierce. I hadn’t heard of him until I read him in here. Out of 50, four are his stories- ‘An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’, ‘A Horseman in the sky’, ‘The Boarded Window’ and ‘A Resumed Identity’. Among the whole collection, I liked all of his stories, but the latter two- ‘A Boarded Window’ and ‘A Resumed identity’ are two of my favorites. ABW reminded me the power of a twisted end, of the way a line can explain the whole story. I’m warning you here, keep yourself from jumping directly to the ending of the story; by doing so, you’d be preparing yourself for one of the worst self-inflicted pains.
If you haven’t read him, please go ahead and do read. And if you already have, you are among the lucky folks, aren’t you?
Another new author and a new story I learnt about are Frank Stockton and his ‘The Lady or the Tiger?’. This story, when I finished reading it, illuminated a path, taken not by many, while writing short stories. What that is, I would refrain from telling you, for I fear that any spillage on that part might ruin your enjoyment of the story.
Never heard of this one too? Go, get the whole story online (very easily,) and enjoy it.
The shortest story of 50 was a story of merely one and a half page; ‘My Financial Career’ by Stephen Leacock. Shortest it was, but was better than few longer ones in the book that I did not like much. It is another example that highlights the brevity at its best.
Then there were stories, about which I hadn’t heard of before, but they affirmed my belief on the power of short stories. The particular ones that I’d like to bring limelight on are ‘To Build A Fire’ by Jack London, ‘Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger’ by Saki, ‘Amy Foster’ by Joseph Conrad and ‘A School Story’ by M.R. James.
‘Amy Foster’ has even been adapted into a movie. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but the story is wonderfully narrated. ‘To Build A Fire’ was my second-last read of the book, ‘The Pit and the Pendulum’ being the last one, and what a story it was! It was one of the most engaging stories of the whole collection. Long it was, but when something is equally well-narrated, the length doesn’t really matter.
If you ask me, I’d say there were only a few stories that I did not like the way I liked many others; ‘The Valley of Spiders’ by H.G. Wells, ‘The Blind Man’ by D.H. Lawrence, ‘A chameleon’ by Anton Chekhov, ‘A Haunted House’ by Virginia Woolf and ‘The Fiddler’ by Herman Melville are few of them. Not that I hated them, but couldn’t come to like them much.
Now, another important question to ponder over is if this book is worth spending your money on? Well, that depends. When I saw this book, the way I could read all these stories without buying the book, was to take the pictures of the index and read them online. Each and every story of this book is available online. This, I haven’t checked by myself for every story, but, chances are high that you will find them out there, unlike full-fledged novels.
Then why did I spend my money on what I could have gotten for no money at all? My idea was, by the end of this book, I will either have a collection of stories that I can go back to anytime I want to, compare them whenever I want to, without having to look out for them online, or I will have a collection of stories that I will remember to never get back to, in future.
You definitely can skip the part of buying the book, and check for every story directly online. But for my own convenience in future, be it re-reading the stories, or comparing them, or checking them for one thing or the other, I wanted to have a such hardcopy.
The only suggestion I’d give to those who plan to read this book is- pick a story randomly from the index, and approach the entire book this way. When I proceeded with the stories chronologically, I found it hard and tedious and not-worth-my-time kind of journey. But the moment I started reading stories randomly, I, for some reason not known, started enjoying it. It might have been just me. But, if you find it difficult, like me, try the other way I mentioned. It ought to do the trick.
December 16, 2022
It should be renamed as "50 Greatest Short Stories according to Terry O'Brien" cause it certainly didn't have all of them.
Fairly bland, to put it plainly.
Another thing is that about 70% of the stories in it are by British authors, the rest by American authors, with 1 French and 1 Russian thrown in the lot. And yes only 3 of them are women.
To top it all, it's a 2015 publication. 😶
Fairly bland, to put it plainly.
Another thing is that about 70% of the stories in it are by British authors, the rest by American authors, with 1 French and 1 Russian thrown in the lot. And yes only 3 of them are women.
To top it all, it's a 2015 publication. 😶
August 12, 2017
Except 2 or 3 stories, the rest of the book is boring and not worth the time.
December 16, 2021
I wouldn't say all stories are good and engaging but this indeed is a great collection to have. I loved rereading (had read this long before) the story of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
This book is a mix of genres below are the stories I liked reading the most.
The humorous ones were The Lottery Ticket by Anton Chekov and My Own True Ghost Story by Rudyard Kipling. The ones that scared me a lot were The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs and The Rocking-Horse Winner by D.H. Lawrence. The Cactus and The Gift of the Magi both by O.Henry just made me go awe. The Model Millionaire by Oscar Wilde and The last leaf by O. Henry touched my heart.
It's a good read, you may skip the story that doesn't entertain you and read the ones you like. This one has to go to the bookshelf of every avid reader.
For more such reviews visit, https://penitratherkeyit.com/category...
This book is a mix of genres below are the stories I liked reading the most.
The humorous ones were The Lottery Ticket by Anton Chekov and My Own True Ghost Story by Rudyard Kipling. The ones that scared me a lot were The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs and The Rocking-Horse Winner by D.H. Lawrence. The Cactus and The Gift of the Magi both by O.Henry just made me go awe. The Model Millionaire by Oscar Wilde and The last leaf by O. Henry touched my heart.
It's a good read, you may skip the story that doesn't entertain you and read the ones you like. This one has to go to the bookshelf of every avid reader.
For more such reviews visit, https://penitratherkeyit.com/category...
November 8, 2022
now my mind is richer by 50 stories ;)
January 10, 2021
DNF! Will try again in sometime because not all stories are engaging and I am losing my patience since I have been trying to read it since nine months.
November 22, 2019
This is a book of 50 great (not sure if they are the greatest!) short stories with a one paragraph introduction by Terry O’Brien. In the absence of any details of how these short stories were selected based on what criteria, it is safe to assume that these are very much a personal choice of Mr. Terry O’Brien. Twenty-eight authors who feature in these selection were all born and largely lived in the 19th century. This is a vintage selection which will appeal to persons of my generation who grew up reading Oscar Wilde and Charles Dickens; the selection could have included a few 20th century writers of fiction, some of whom like Fredrick Forsyth and Jeffrey Archer wrote such fine short stories.
Truly, as O’Brien puts it, these short story writers ‘carve on an inch of ivory‘; I would say some of them like Stephen Leacock (My Financial Career) and Kate Chopin (The Story of an Hour) carve on a grain of rice! This selection has some of my favorite authors like O. Henry and Chekov. I have selected 10 stories that I liked the most. Given below is the list in no particular order:
1.The Last Leaf – O. Henry
2.The Lottery Ticket – A. Chekov
3.The Cop and the Anthem – O. Henry
4.A Chameleon – A. Chekov
5.The Cactus – O. Henry
6.My Financial Career – Stephen Leacock
7.The Necklace – Guy de Maupassant
8.Rain – Somerset Maugham
9.Curious Case of Benjamin Button – F. Scott Fitzgerald
10.The Story of an Hour – Kate Chopin
They are all master story tellers. Yet, each has a distinctive style. While O. Henry's stories always have a twist in the tale, Chekov and Maupassant focus more on frailties of human nature. In The Lottery Ticket, Chekov follows the train of thought of a much married couple as they imagine winning the lottery - instead of sweet anticipation, there is much bitterness. A Chameleon reminded me of another of Chekov's short story - Death of a Government Clerk. In both, his description of petty government official's behavior is flawless. One can easily relate to Chekov's characters as they are timeless. I loved O Henry's The Cactus. As with all his stories, the twist at the end leaves you with a chuckle. O Henry's stories leave you feeling good unlike Edgar Allen Poe, whose macabre stories leave you wondering what is the matter with him. After reading his The Black Cat, I gave a wide berth to his other stories!
W. Somerset Maugham has been one of my favorite authors. The interesting thing about his stories is that they are set in exotic locales. Rain is set in a Pacific island. The story is rather long but after you finish reading it, you see where he was leading you. It is like watching an artiste paint a picture – it is only after the last brush stroke is applied and you stand back, you get the picture. Another of Maugham’s short story that deserved a place in the selection is Mr. Know All.
Mauppassant's The Necklace is my all time favorite. His description of the market place is so good that you can actually see the sights and hear the sounds.
Talking of short stories, I can’t help but mention the one long short story that won hearts all around – James Hilton’s Good Bye Mr. Chips. It does indeed take the cake.
If you have read the 50 Greatest Short Stories, you can compare your list of 10 top stories with mine – just for kicks!
Truly, as O’Brien puts it, these short story writers ‘carve on an inch of ivory‘; I would say some of them like Stephen Leacock (My Financial Career) and Kate Chopin (The Story of an Hour) carve on a grain of rice! This selection has some of my favorite authors like O. Henry and Chekov. I have selected 10 stories that I liked the most. Given below is the list in no particular order:
1.The Last Leaf – O. Henry
2.The Lottery Ticket – A. Chekov
3.The Cop and the Anthem – O. Henry
4.A Chameleon – A. Chekov
5.The Cactus – O. Henry
6.My Financial Career – Stephen Leacock
7.The Necklace – Guy de Maupassant
8.Rain – Somerset Maugham
9.Curious Case of Benjamin Button – F. Scott Fitzgerald
10.The Story of an Hour – Kate Chopin
They are all master story tellers. Yet, each has a distinctive style. While O. Henry's stories always have a twist in the tale, Chekov and Maupassant focus more on frailties of human nature. In The Lottery Ticket, Chekov follows the train of thought of a much married couple as they imagine winning the lottery - instead of sweet anticipation, there is much bitterness. A Chameleon reminded me of another of Chekov's short story - Death of a Government Clerk. In both, his description of petty government official's behavior is flawless. One can easily relate to Chekov's characters as they are timeless. I loved O Henry's The Cactus. As with all his stories, the twist at the end leaves you with a chuckle. O Henry's stories leave you feeling good unlike Edgar Allen Poe, whose macabre stories leave you wondering what is the matter with him. After reading his The Black Cat, I gave a wide berth to his other stories!
W. Somerset Maugham has been one of my favorite authors. The interesting thing about his stories is that they are set in exotic locales. Rain is set in a Pacific island. The story is rather long but after you finish reading it, you see where he was leading you. It is like watching an artiste paint a picture – it is only after the last brush stroke is applied and you stand back, you get the picture. Another of Maugham’s short story that deserved a place in the selection is Mr. Know All.
Mauppassant's The Necklace is my all time favorite. His description of the market place is so good that you can actually see the sights and hear the sounds.
Talking of short stories, I can’t help but mention the one long short story that won hearts all around – James Hilton’s Good Bye Mr. Chips. It does indeed take the cake.
If you have read the 50 Greatest Short Stories, you can compare your list of 10 top stories with mine – just for kicks!
December 28, 2022
After almost 2 years, I have finally finished this whopping book of short stories. Or almost finished... as I had to skip some stories or I would never have finished in this lifetime. Quite a few stories were excerpts in my school textbooks, and a few really made an impact, like the stories by Jack London and Somerset Maugham. So much so, that I bought The Razor's Edge. My favorite, however, would have to be "The curious case of Benjamin Button" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. That was a wild ride from start to finish.
Some of the stories were a bit too monotonous and couldn't keep my attention till the end. I guess even classics have a limit, or maybe I was just feeling the pressure of the new year looming.
All in all, despite only containing short stories, I definitely wouldn't be able to read this book in one sitting. First, because some short stories are long enough to be novellas, and secondly because each story has an underlying point, which is either often dark and raw with deep-buried ugly human emotions, or just plain rambling that goes over my head.
Some of the stories were a bit too monotonous and couldn't keep my attention till the end. I guess even classics have a limit, or maybe I was just feeling the pressure of the new year looming.
All in all, despite only containing short stories, I definitely wouldn't be able to read this book in one sitting. First, because some short stories are long enough to be novellas, and secondly because each story has an underlying point, which is either often dark and raw with deep-buried ugly human emotions, or just plain rambling that goes over my head.
March 4, 2023
The stories were extremely good and entertaining to read.
July 4, 2024
Several gems. A few mehs. The stories are short enough that you can really enjoy the gems and not feel put out by the mehs.
April 22, 2023
This anthology can be a great start for someone in the early stages of dalliance with English literature. Most of the short stories can be called what is considered 'Classics'. However, the title needs to be more accurate. All of the writers in this collection are from the eighteenth or early nineteenth century. So, one may be forgiven for calling the stories and plots 'dated'. '50 Greatest Short Stories' of a particular era or a specific genre? Sure. But, definitely, many excellent short stories have been written since.
Anyway, here are the ones I liked most:
“The Blind Man” by D. H. Lawrence
“The Music on the Hill” by Saki
“The Rocking-Horse Winner” by D. H. Lawrence
“Lady with the Dog” by Anton Chekhov
“The Cop and the Anthem” by O Henry
“A Chameleon” by Anton Chekhov
“The Lady, or the Tiger?” by Frank R. Stockton
“The Monkey’s Paw” by W W Jacobs
“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
“The man who could work miracles” by H.G.Wells
“The Dancing Partner” by Jerome K Jerome
“The Horla” by Guy de Maupassant
“Rain” by William Somerset Maugham
Anyway, here are the ones I liked most:
“The Blind Man” by D. H. Lawrence
“The Music on the Hill” by Saki
“The Rocking-Horse Winner” by D. H. Lawrence
“Lady with the Dog” by Anton Chekhov
“The Cop and the Anthem” by O Henry
“A Chameleon” by Anton Chekhov
“The Lady, or the Tiger?” by Frank R. Stockton
“The Monkey’s Paw” by W W Jacobs
“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
“The man who could work miracles” by H.G.Wells
“The Dancing Partner” by Jerome K Jerome
“The Horla” by Guy de Maupassant
“Rain” by William Somerset Maugham
September 10, 2023
50 Greatest Short Stories (Terry O’Brien)
I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for an anthology of the world’s greatest short stories authored by some of the world famous authors. They include writers like Oscar Wilde, O Henry, D H Lawrence and Anton Chekov to name a few. In the Introduction, Terry O’Brien tells us as to what qualifies as a short story. ABC for instance is the essence of all short stories, which includes Accuracy, brevity and conciseness. Further, he says that, “it must have a single leit-motif, like a lyric, almost a “moment’s monument”. Keeping these parameters in mind, the author has culled out classics that appeal to the the readers of this genre. “Great short story writers have the art of excellence. These writers “carve on an inch of ivory” and create some of the timeless gems in this genre. I particularly enjoyed reading Oscar Wilde’s , The Model Millionaire, as it tells us as to how, “romance is the privilege of the rich and not the profession of the unemployed”. This in fact is the underlying theme of this charming short story, brought together by the protagonist Hughie Erskine, his artist friend Alan Trevor and the wealthy Baron Hausberg. Hughie’s life has taken a depressing turn when the father of his ladylove Laura Merton, puts forward the condition that he procures ten thousand pounds, for him to marry his daughter. However, in one of his visits to Alan Trevor, he finds him painting a model in tatters, holding out a hat as if asking for money. Hughie’s heart goes out to him and he parts with a highest denomination coin, even though penniless. At this juncture, I could sense the twist in the tale, when the model turns out to be one of the wealthiest men in Europe, Baron Hausberg. All is well that ends well, when the largehearted Baron gifts Hughie his wedding present of ten thousand pounds. So, there seems to be hope for the Romantics in the world. The Baron has the last laugh and it will not be wrongto say that the tale ends on a note of humor and hope. Another short story that caught my eye was that of O Henry, The Last Leaf. The story came across to me as one of hope, sacrifice and selflessness. The story revolves around Sue, the protagonist, Johnsy (Sue’s friend and roommate), and the artist, Behrman. Johnsy is very sick, down with pneumonia. She firmly believes that when the ivy vine outside her window loses all its leaves, she will also die. Behrman the artist tricks her by painting his masterpiece, a leaf on the wall. But in the process, by exposing himself to the elements, Behrman contracts pneumonia and dies. But he has achieved a painting that turns out to be somewhat of a masterpiece of his life, as it has helped Johnsy fight for survival and recover by thinking that the leaf on the wall is still intact. I found this story particularly touching and symbolic. As the leaf symbolises hope, fertility, abundance, rebirth, peace to name a few, the story is simplistic and yet profound. Another story in this compilation is that of Anton Chekov, by the title, The Lottery ticket. Chekov here has brilliantly brought into the open what the sudden onset of immense wealth can do to ordinary people through the characters in the story, Ivan Dmitritch and his wife Masha. The story revolves around Masha’s lottery ticket. Ivan is skeptical about his wife’s fetish for buying lottery tickets. But to his astonishment he finds that the series number matches the winning series number this time around. Instead of checking the rest of the number they start to daydream as to what they would do with all the wealth. Happiness turns to hostility, as they weigh each other’s attitudes. Ivan feels that his wife would either abandon him or control him with all her money and the wife starts to worry that Ivan will squander all the money which is rightfully hers. The emotions run deep as they turn against each other drastically. They come down to earth with a thud when they realize that they have in fact not won anything, when Ivan checks with the last number. The story ends on a rather bleak note, when Ivan talks about how terrible life is and that how he would like to hang himself from the tree outside. Wealth corrupts and stokes greed, may well be the underlying theme of this story. There are still many other short stories woven together in this collection that are worth reading and each of them are gems, with messages and a twist at the end of every tale, which sustains the interest of the readers.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for an anthology of the world’s greatest short stories authored by some of the world famous authors. They include writers like Oscar Wilde, O Henry, D H Lawrence and Anton Chekov to name a few. In the Introduction, Terry O’Brien tells us as to what qualifies as a short story. ABC for instance is the essence of all short stories, which includes Accuracy, brevity and conciseness. Further, he says that, “it must have a single leit-motif, like a lyric, almost a “moment’s monument”. Keeping these parameters in mind, the author has culled out classics that appeal to the the readers of this genre. “Great short story writers have the art of excellence. These writers “carve on an inch of ivory” and create some of the timeless gems in this genre. I particularly enjoyed reading Oscar Wilde’s , The Model Millionaire, as it tells us as to how, “romance is the privilege of the rich and not the profession of the unemployed”. This in fact is the underlying theme of this charming short story, brought together by the protagonist Hughie Erskine, his artist friend Alan Trevor and the wealthy Baron Hausberg. Hughie’s life has taken a depressing turn when the father of his ladylove Laura Merton, puts forward the condition that he procures ten thousand pounds, for him to marry his daughter. However, in one of his visits to Alan Trevor, he finds him painting a model in tatters, holding out a hat as if asking for money. Hughie’s heart goes out to him and he parts with a highest denomination coin, even though penniless. At this juncture, I could sense the twist in the tale, when the model turns out to be one of the wealthiest men in Europe, Baron Hausberg. All is well that ends well, when the largehearted Baron gifts Hughie his wedding present of ten thousand pounds. So, there seems to be hope for the Romantics in the world. The Baron has the last laugh and it will not be wrongto say that the tale ends on a note of humor and hope. Another short story that caught my eye was that of O Henry, The Last Leaf. The story came across to me as one of hope, sacrifice and selflessness. The story revolves around Sue, the protagonist, Johnsy (Sue’s friend and roommate), and the artist, Behrman. Johnsy is very sick, down with pneumonia. She firmly believes that when the ivy vine outside her window loses all its leaves, she will also die. Behrman the artist tricks her by painting his masterpiece, a leaf on the wall. But in the process, by exposing himself to the elements, Behrman contracts pneumonia and dies. But he has achieved a painting that turns out to be somewhat of a masterpiece of his life, as it has helped Johnsy fight for survival and recover by thinking that the leaf on the wall is still intact. I found this story particularly touching and symbolic. As the leaf symbolises hope, fertility, abundance, rebirth, peace to name a few, the story is simplistic and yet profound. Another story in this compilation is that of Anton Chekov, by the title, The Lottery ticket. Chekov here has brilliantly brought into the open what the sudden onset of immense wealth can do to ordinary people through the characters in the story, Ivan Dmitritch and his wife Masha. The story revolves around Masha’s lottery ticket. Ivan is skeptical about his wife’s fetish for buying lottery tickets. But to his astonishment he finds that the series number matches the winning series number this time around. Instead of checking the rest of the number they start to daydream as to what they would do with all the wealth. Happiness turns to hostility, as they weigh each other’s attitudes. Ivan feels that his wife would either abandon him or control him with all her money and the wife starts to worry that Ivan will squander all the money which is rightfully hers. The emotions run deep as they turn against each other drastically. They come down to earth with a thud when they realize that they have in fact not won anything, when Ivan checks with the last number. The story ends on a rather bleak note, when Ivan talks about how terrible life is and that how he would like to hang himself from the tree outside. Wealth corrupts and stokes greed, may well be the underlying theme of this story. There are still many other short stories woven together in this collection that are worth reading and each of them are gems, with messages and a twist at the end of every tale, which sustains the interest of the readers.
April 20, 2019
Book- 50 Greatest short stories
So, let’s get started.😍 I was reading short stories after a long time, and trust me it’s refreshing and it is really worth your time. While reading this book you will go through different emotions, sometimes you will feel like jumping with joy; curious to know what’s there in next story and sometimes it will make you nostalgic and take you to your school days as some of these stories are present in our school books as well.
This book includes stories written by some of the world’s finest writers like Charles Dickens, O. Henry, Rudyard Kipling, Kate Chopin, Ambrose Bierce, Joseph Conrad, Virginia Woolf and many more.
Just imagine the masters of the genres came together to tell you some stories. Isn’t it interesting? Hat’s off to the selection of stories. Especially for to be #bookstagrammers (means for the beginners😊) this book is worth giving a try. #trulyabliss
Only one suggestion don’t start this book in a typical way like from first to last page read.
NO my dear A BIG NO!! Just go to index pick a random story and start reading. Trust me that’s how you will enjoy this book❤️
Rating: 4/5
So, let’s get started.😍 I was reading short stories after a long time, and trust me it’s refreshing and it is really worth your time. While reading this book you will go through different emotions, sometimes you will feel like jumping with joy; curious to know what’s there in next story and sometimes it will make you nostalgic and take you to your school days as some of these stories are present in our school books as well.
This book includes stories written by some of the world’s finest writers like Charles Dickens, O. Henry, Rudyard Kipling, Kate Chopin, Ambrose Bierce, Joseph Conrad, Virginia Woolf and many more.
Just imagine the masters of the genres came together to tell you some stories. Isn’t it interesting? Hat’s off to the selection of stories. Especially for to be #bookstagrammers (means for the beginners😊) this book is worth giving a try. #trulyabliss
Only one suggestion don’t start this book in a typical way like from first to last page read.
NO my dear A BIG NO!! Just go to index pick a random story and start reading. Trust me that’s how you will enjoy this book❤️
Rating: 4/5
October 27, 2021
What a ride did I take to finish this . It was certainly the one which pushed my boundaries, I had to spend a lot of time in understanding what the stories meant . It angered me as to why should people write stories so complicated, but maybe that shows the beauty of literature. I really fell in love just with the writing in some stories . Now the stories which are very close to my heart are 1. The last leaf 2. The blind man 3. The lady with the dog 4. The monkey's paw 5. To build a fire 6. Hunter quatermain's story . Nevertheless a enjoyed a bunch of stories especially the ghost stories , o Henry's , Anton chekhov , Kate Chopin , Edgar Allan poe . Ambrose 's stories were the toughest to decode . Certain stories like the fly , the lady with dog , the curious case of Benjamin button , a little cloud , Amy foster , rain , Allan poe stories made me feel certain emotions which can't be expressed by words . It was me realizing that in the end that yes classics take time to read & understand but it's worth the time & effort .
December 17, 2020
I started this book a long back I finished it in 20 days but the timeline is not what matters.
If you have never got hands on classic writers like the ones you always have heard of but have never read go for this.
It’s not a big book but it has so many different authors with so many different ideas.
It has HG Wells,Edgar Allan Poe,Fitzgerald,Bram stoker(One of my favourites)
Poe has his own world of darkness in which he makes you fall and want you to dig deeper within the darkness he makes you believe in what he writes he makes you see what he wants you to see in the story🙈
The book is wholesome and will definitely lure you till the very end. The best thing is you can pick any story of your choice and enjoy it in no definite manner.
So grab your cup of coffee take your blankets and read this for Christmas 🎄. I am sure you won’t be disappointed. And when you end this book instead of completing one single book you’ll be 50 stories reader🤭
If you have never got hands on classic writers like the ones you always have heard of but have never read go for this.
It’s not a big book but it has so many different authors with so many different ideas.
It has HG Wells,Edgar Allan Poe,Fitzgerald,Bram stoker(One of my favourites)
Poe has his own world of darkness in which he makes you fall and want you to dig deeper within the darkness he makes you believe in what he writes he makes you see what he wants you to see in the story🙈
The book is wholesome and will definitely lure you till the very end. The best thing is you can pick any story of your choice and enjoy it in no definite manner.
So grab your cup of coffee take your blankets and read this for Christmas 🎄. I am sure you won’t be disappointed. And when you end this book instead of completing one single book you’ll be 50 stories reader🤭
October 6, 2020
It consists one story each of several authors. While few stories are standalone sufficient to indulge the reader, there are few that require the reader to do prior reading and understand the worldview of the author. Also, there are few that demand further reading of the same author. And then there also are some that might have been great, but have lost their relevance over time.
Overall, it's a great collection. But it shouldn't be treated as that 'best collection' after which the quest can stop. Rather, it must be treated as an introduction to some of the best authors of English language history. The journey must start from here, not stop.
I'm emphasising this point as I've seen some of my friends falling into the trap of assuming that they've 'completed' reading the best of English short story literature after finishing this book.
Overall, it's a great collection. But it shouldn't be treated as that 'best collection' after which the quest can stop. Rather, it must be treated as an introduction to some of the best authors of English language history. The journey must start from here, not stop.
I'm emphasising this point as I've seen some of my friends falling into the trap of assuming that they've 'completed' reading the best of English short story literature after finishing this book.
May 26, 2024
The book has received mixed reviews, and I tend to agree more with the negative sentiments. One reviewer correctly pointed out that these stories appeal great to writer himself than to readers.
To me, a great short story should be able to captivate its audience with brevity, providing a glimpse into a broader narrative or offering profound insights into the human condition. Unfortunately, several stories in the book fall short of meeting these criteria. They feel unfinished, lacking the depth and richness that make short stories truly impactful. It lacks the depth/complexity, and diverse characters that, in my opinion, are crucial for truly outstanding short fiction.
To me, a great short story should be able to captivate its audience with brevity, providing a glimpse into a broader narrative or offering profound insights into the human condition. Unfortunately, several stories in the book fall short of meeting these criteria. They feel unfinished, lacking the depth and richness that make short stories truly impactful. It lacks the depth/complexity, and diverse characters that, in my opinion, are crucial for truly outstanding short fiction.
September 20, 2020
Read the stories over a period of time rather than in one sitting. There are some stories which are really good and stayed with me long after I had read it. I would say there are probably 10-12 really good stories; the rest are just average.
March 20, 2021
I feel these 50 stories should be even shorter than what mentioned. This is just waste of pages. Highly boring. One would loose interest eventually as they start turning the pages over.
August 16, 2023
Prepare to embark on a thrilling literary adventure with this phenomenal short-story collection! It's like stumbling upon a treasure trove of carefully curated gems that have been plucked from the vast expanse of storytelling brilliance. These stories are the crème de la crème, the kind that finds their way into the dreams of literary aficionados.
The author lineup reads like a who's who of the literary world, an all-star cast of wordsmiths whose names alone could inspire awe. As you flip through the pages, you'll find yourself in the company of literary legends who have woven tales that span the spectrum of human experience.
Dive headfirst into a mesmerizing journey that traverses genres, each story a unique universe waiting to be explored. From heart-pounding mysteries that will keep you up all night, to heartwarming tales that wrap you in a cozy embrace, this collection is a kaleidoscope of emotions, sensations, and experiences.
But here's the beauty of it: not every story will steal your heart in the same way. It's a literary buffet, and just like tasting a diverse array of flavors, you'll find yourself savoring some stories more than others. That's the magic of this compilation—it's a reflection of the rich tapestry of human imagination, a testament to the fact that no two readers experience a story in quite the same way.
Owning this book isn't just adding another title to your collection; it's a statement of literary sophistication. It's a keepsake that transcends time, a bound treasure chest of narratives that you'll proudly display on your bookshelf. So go ahead, lose yourself in these pages, and let these stories become a part of your own personal anthology. This collection is not just a book, it's an enchanting journey you'll want to relive again and again.
The author lineup reads like a who's who of the literary world, an all-star cast of wordsmiths whose names alone could inspire awe. As you flip through the pages, you'll find yourself in the company of literary legends who have woven tales that span the spectrum of human experience.
Dive headfirst into a mesmerizing journey that traverses genres, each story a unique universe waiting to be explored. From heart-pounding mysteries that will keep you up all night, to heartwarming tales that wrap you in a cozy embrace, this collection is a kaleidoscope of emotions, sensations, and experiences.
But here's the beauty of it: not every story will steal your heart in the same way. It's a literary buffet, and just like tasting a diverse array of flavors, you'll find yourself savoring some stories more than others. That's the magic of this compilation—it's a reflection of the rich tapestry of human imagination, a testament to the fact that no two readers experience a story in quite the same way.
Owning this book isn't just adding another title to your collection; it's a statement of literary sophistication. It's a keepsake that transcends time, a bound treasure chest of narratives that you'll proudly display on your bookshelf. So go ahead, lose yourself in these pages, and let these stories become a part of your own personal anthology. This collection is not just a book, it's an enchanting journey you'll want to relive again and again.
June 4, 2023
Terry O'Brien's "50 Greatest Short Stories" is a collection of classic and contemporary short fiction from around the world.
The book features stories by some of the most celebrated authors in the history of the genre, including Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, Anton Chekhov, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Overall, "50 Greatest Short Stories" is a good collection of short fiction. It is a great choice for anyone who is interested in reading classic and contemporary short stories.
However, it is not the best collection of short fiction that is available.
Here are some of the pros and cons of the book:
Pros:
Well-written and engaging stories.
Variety of perspectives on human nature and the human condition.
Includes stories by some of the most celebrated authors in the history of the genre.
Cons:
Some of the stories are not as memorable or impactful as others.
Some of the stories feel like they have been included in the collection simply because they are by famous authors.
Overall, I would give "50 Greatest Short Stories" a 3-star rating. It is a good collection of short fiction, but it is not the best collection that is available.
The book features stories by some of the most celebrated authors in the history of the genre, including Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, Anton Chekhov, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Overall, "50 Greatest Short Stories" is a good collection of short fiction. It is a great choice for anyone who is interested in reading classic and contemporary short stories.
However, it is not the best collection of short fiction that is available.
Here are some of the pros and cons of the book:
Pros:
Well-written and engaging stories.
Variety of perspectives on human nature and the human condition.
Includes stories by some of the most celebrated authors in the history of the genre.
Cons:
Some of the stories are not as memorable or impactful as others.
Some of the stories feel like they have been included in the collection simply because they are by famous authors.
Overall, I would give "50 Greatest Short Stories" a 3-star rating. It is a good collection of short fiction, but it is not the best collection that is available.
September 25, 2022
My sister gifted me this book around 4 years back and I had started it then. But I didn't read it regularly and so it took me so long to finally finish it. It is a good collection and consists of well known writers like Charles Dickens, Guy de Maupassant, O Henry, Rudyard Kipling, Virginia Woolf and W Somerset Maugham to name a few. Some stories are funny, some spooky and dark, some intriguing and some are emotional. Reading one story a day is a good way to read this book.
One thing which I didn't like about it is the sequencing of the stories. Several times, the theme of the stories placed together tend to be of similar theme, especially the spooky and dark ones. I felt that the themes and placing of the stories could have been more varied. There are hardly any happy stories in it.
Overall, it is a good collection to read and possess.
One thing which I didn't like about it is the sequencing of the stories. Several times, the theme of the stories placed together tend to be of similar theme, especially the spooky and dark ones. I felt that the themes and placing of the stories could have been more varied. There are hardly any happy stories in it.
Overall, it is a good collection to read and possess.
April 13, 2020
About 20 stories or so are worth reading. Around 5 stories are horrible. The rest are decent. For the sake of the buyers or readers, the publishers should have mentioned that it is a collection of vintage stories as all of them are from the 19th & 20th century. These stories are generally hard to read for the average reader due to the specific narrative style and language. The publishers could also have included some contemporary stories to the collection. Overall, this book can introduce you to a variety of writers and help you pick up a certain genre or writer for future readings but I wouldn't suggest you to buy this book.
February 25, 2023
Such amazing short stories and surprising many ghost and horror ones. Some were were even as short as 2 pages but were impactful like a 20 page one. It even included “The curious case of Benjamin Button”. I was thrilled to read the original version. Gripping, emotional, suspenseful and thrilling stories that led me to a sigh or chill in the end.
One story, sadly, I couldn’t really understand much. It was “The valley of Spiders”. It was too complicated, at least for me.
Overall I would certainly recommend this book to everyone who loves fiction. Especially good for those who can’t read a lot in one go.
One story, sadly, I couldn’t really understand much. It was “The valley of Spiders”. It was too complicated, at least for me.
Overall I would certainly recommend this book to everyone who loves fiction. Especially good for those who can’t read a lot in one go.
July 21, 2023
As is the case with such collections, this one's a mixed bag. There are some superstars of the past two centuries whose work is featured in here. Still, its a stretch to claim that these stories are the best that they ever wrote. If one can look past the hyperbole in the title, there are some pleasures to be had here. This is a rather eclectic collection, not just of writers, but also of moods and genres. For readers who are not terribly discerning, and have a taste for old-world writing, this one's not a bad choice. For me, the stand-out piece was Maugham's 'Rain'. That story (almost) made up for some of the shortcomings.
November 16, 2025
This collection turned out to be fun and formative for me! A few months before i started my english bachelor’s degree, I decided i should get introduced to some more classic authors. picked this up at an airport bookstore in mumbai and was immediately invested upon reading a Chekhov story that’s in here. I’d never read Chekhov and was awed at his accurate description and portrayal of humans - how they work, think, talk, act - man. So many other stories in here were helpful introductions to the authors i would end up studying in college. it was an unexpected head start to my formal education! would 100% recommend this collection!
July 19, 2018
I picked up reading after a couple of years and this book was the reason for it, if you're a beginner or like me you wish to start reading again then I say this is the book for you !
This book offers a selection of the world's best short fiction stories and it brings together the work of great masters such as Rudyard Kipling, Joseph Conrad, Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, Saki, O. Henry, F. Scott Fitzgerald, R. L. Stevenson and a personal favourite, H.G. Wells.
All the stories are timeless masterpieces and are sure to help you develop a mature taste.
cheers !
This book offers a selection of the world's best short fiction stories and it brings together the work of great masters such as Rudyard Kipling, Joseph Conrad, Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, Saki, O. Henry, F. Scott Fitzgerald, R. L. Stevenson and a personal favourite, H.G. Wells.
All the stories are timeless masterpieces and are sure to help you develop a mature taste.
cheers !
August 6, 2019
This one has a catch to the rating. As it is a collection of 50 stories I can't rate the book on the whole.
Few of the stories I loved and fell in love with the characters (hated few characters in few cases). Some stories left me without a closure which I loved. Few stories I couldn't connect to or not mature enough to fathom the depth of the writing.
I won't suggest to buy it but rather just search for the titles in the content and you can get these stories for free. But few of these will surely be great stories in your life.
Few of the stories I loved and fell in love with the characters (hated few characters in few cases). Some stories left me without a closure which I loved. Few stories I couldn't connect to or not mature enough to fathom the depth of the writing.
I won't suggest to buy it but rather just search for the titles in the content and you can get these stories for free. But few of these will surely be great stories in your life.
August 14, 2020
It took me a very long time to complete this book. Hence that should tell you it’s not a very compelling read. Except for a few, most were very drab and some were too long to be labelled as a short story.
Some were so boring that I don’t even remember the title of the story.
However I think that it is a good buy because it has introduced me to authors that I am now interested in and would love to read more of their work.
Some were so boring that I don’t even remember the title of the story.
However I think that it is a good buy because it has introduced me to authors that I am now interested in and would love to read more of their work.
June 30, 2022
What a waste of my time!!!
I read about half of these stories. I kept thinking it's got to get better but it doesn't.
A few of the stories are pretty good but ONLY a few could possibly be classified as "50 Greatest Short Stories".
Many don't make any sense at all.
I don't know who Terry O'Brien is....if he is the one who chose these to be 50 Greatest then he must be from another planet.....
I read about half of these stories. I kept thinking it's got to get better but it doesn't.
A few of the stories are pretty good but ONLY a few could possibly be classified as "50 Greatest Short Stories".
Many don't make any sense at all.
I don't know who Terry O'Brien is....if he is the one who chose these to be 50 Greatest then he must be from another planet.....
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