A Dill Pickle

by Katherine Mansfield

A Dill Pickle is a 1917 short story by Katherine Mansfield. It was first published in the New Age on 4 October 1917. A revised version later appeared in Bliss and Other Stories. The characters and their relationship possibly were inspired by Mansfield's older sister Vera Margaret Beauchamp and her husband James Mackintosh Bell.

A man and a woman who used to be romantically involved meet by chance in a tea-house not having seen each other for about six years. We learn that the woman ended their earlier relationship in a letter she wrote to him, but we come to doubt that she expected the letter to do so. They sit together and reminisce about past events – for example, the day they spent at Kew Gardens together. Both initially seem to regret not being friends any longer.

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

Unknown Binding

About the author

Kathleen Mansfield Murry (née Beauchamp) was a prominent New Zealand modernist writer of short fiction who wrote under the pen name of Katherine Mansfield.

Katherine Mansfield is widely considered one of the best short story writers of her period. A number of her works, including "Miss Brill", "Prelude", "The Garden Party", "The Doll's House", and later works such as "The Fly", are frequently collected in short story anthologies. Mansfield also proved ahead of her time in her adoration of Russian playwright and short story writer Anton Chekhov, and incorporated some of his themes and techniques into her writing.

Katherine Mansfield was part of a "new dawn" in English literature with T.S. Eliot, James Joyce and Virginia Woolf. She was associated with the brilliant group of writers who made the London of the period the centre of the literary world.

Nevertheless, Mansfield was a New Zealand writer - she could not have written as she did had she not gone to live in England and France, but she could not have done her best work if she had not had firm roots in her native land. She used her memories in her writing from the beginning, people, the places, even the colloquial speech of the country form the fabric of much of her best work.

Mansfield's stories were the first of significance in English to be written without a conventional plot. Supplanting the strictly structured plots of her predecessors in the genre (Edgar Allan Poe, Rudyard Kipling, H. G. Wells), Mansfield concentrated on one moment, a crisis or a turning point, rather than on a sequence of events. The plot is secondary to mood and characters. The stories are innovative in many other ways. They feature simple things - a doll's house or a charwoman. Her imagery, frequently from nature, flowers, wind and colours, set the scene with which readers can identify easily.

Themes too are universal: human isolation, the questioning of traditional roles of men and women in society, the conflict between love and disillusionment, idealism and reality, beauty and ugliness, joy and suffering, and the inevitability of these paradoxes. Oblique narration (influenced by Chekhov but certainly developed by Mansfield) includes the use of symbolism - the doll's house lamp, the fly, the pear tree - hinting at the hidden layers of meaning. Suggestion and implication replace direct detail.

Reviews

[Paula Mota · Rating 4 out of 5]

# short stories in the shortest month #23

A Dill Pickle, de Katherine Mansfield

"I've often thought how I must have bored you. And now I understand so perfectly why you wrote to me as you did—although at the time that letter nearly finished my life. I found it again the other day, and I couldn't help laughing as I read it. It was so clever—such a true picture of me." He glanced up. "You're not going?" She had buttoned her collar again and drawn down her veil. "Yes, I am afraid I must," she said, and managed a smile. Now she knew that he had been mocking.

Vera reencontra num restaurante um ex-namorado com quem rompera seis anos antes, e o despeito do homem é visível assim que põe os olhos nela. Ao contrário dela, que até teve de vender o piano, o homem parece ter subido na vida, vestido com elegância e desejoso de se gabar de todas as viagens que fez desde que se separaram e que tinham planeado juntos.

As he spoke, so lightly, tapping the end of his cigarette against the ash-tray, she felt the strange beast that had slumbered so long within her bosom stir, stretch itself, yawn, prick up its ears, and suddenly bound to its feet, and fix its longing, hungry stare upon those far away places. But all she said was, smiling gently: "How I envy you."

De um lado a altivez do homem, do outro o orgulho da mulher; tudo uma fachada.

[Cleo · Rating 5 out of 5]

a superbly acerbic short story about when you bump into your ex and it's nice for 10 seconds but then you want to die

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As he spoke, so lightly, tapping the end of his cigarette against the ashtray, she felt the strange beast that had slumbered so long within her bosom stir, stretch itself, yawn, prick up its ears, and suddenly bound to its feet, and fix its longing, hungry stare upon those far away places. But all she said was, smiling gently:"How I envy you."

[Kateryna Kryvoviaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can honestly say that this is my favourite Mansfield's story so far. It describes an unexpected meeting between two ex-lovers. Mansfield perfectly transmits their feeling and emotions through her narrative. But what I like the most is that there is always difference between what the characters are saying and what they actually mean or what they want other person to think.

[Arndis · Rating 4 out of 5]

margar fallegar sögur, mis góðar en samt allar góðar.

[Buster Weare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story collection was so sentimental and beautiful. Mansfield brings her characters to life effortlessly and captures those nuanced feelings that are often provoked by seemingly insignificant, fleeting moments. Very inspiring!

My favourite short story: Something Childish but very Natural.

Feuille d’Album - 4 stars
A Dill Pickle - 4 stars
Marriage à la mode - 5 stars
Miss Brill - 4 stars
Her First Ball - 4 stars
The Doll’s House - 5 stars
The Tiredness of Rosabel - 4 stars
Something Childish but very Natural - 5 stars

[Erofili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww this was so girlhood to me somehow. Such lovely and gentle storytelling whilst at times quite poignant and melancholic. Also anything that focuses on the little mundane things in life is right up my street so I thoroughly enjoyed this one tee hee!

Honestly I loved them all and rate each little story highly but the 2 that just about stood out the most to me were 'The Tiredness of Rosabel' and 'The Doll's House'. (Although I have to give a special mention to 'Something Childish but very Natural').

[Cassie Landt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful collection of stories!! And such an excellent name for them!!!

[Immy Stannard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shout out to the girls for getting me this book it was soooo good u guys know me too well (I love katherine Mansfield and pickles)

[Felix Haas · Rating 5 out of 5]

katherine katherine where have you been all my life?

[__mickayla__ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, Katherine Mansfield has done it again 🌸🩷
She is truly amazing at crafting some of the most heartfelt, magical, enticing stories! ✨

In this book, there were 5 new stories to me, my favourites are:
— Feuille d’Album
— A Dill Pickle
— The tiredness of Rosabel (this girl is literally me, such a daydreamer 💭)
— Something childish but very natural
(So, like, most of them)

I am defs gonna get the “The Collected stories” to complete my collection & to discover more.
This is the perfect book to introduce you to Mansfields stories 🌹

[RyanG37 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of 8 short stories from Katherine Mansfield, the only person whose writing Virginia Woolf ever said she was jealous of. Thematically the stories mostly deal with the significance of small moments, chance meetings, and careless words, and there is something wistful about much of the book. As expected, I enjoyed some more than others, but a nice range of stories, ranging from the amusing to the poignant. And lovely writing.

[Didi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really beautifully written and I’m so glad to finally have read some Katherine Mansfield. BUT I’m not sure I’m a short stories gal. Mainly chose this at the barbican bookshop because of the title and it didn’t disappoint. I think short stories require time and I wanted to read this quickly …

[Rachel Neugart · Rating 4 out of 5]

“That’s all life is - something childish and very natural. Isn’t it?”

8 short stories that bite at your heart. Youthful, tender, captivating. Particularly loved ‘Something Childish but very Natural’ and ‘The Tiredness of Rosabel’.

[Raegan Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Candy

[Frida · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Ella Barrett-McGuinness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cannot get enough of Katherine Mansfield, was so incredibly happy to have stumbled upon this penguin archive in the bookshop! 🤩

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

my introduction to katherine mansfield i love!!! my favourite stories were: “The Doll’s House”, “A Dill Pickle” and “Something Childish But Very Natural” also so many violet mentions my favourite 🪻

[hazza bazza · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprising little collection. I didn’t know what to expect of Katherine Mansfield but a good few of these were magical. Such well realised characters, wonderful language, and some memorable turns and twists. Edit: nvm I forgot everything about this

[Vivienne Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange short story — another one for my analysing prose fiction class. I didn't really know what to think of it. The whole story is a conversation between two ex-lovers (?) I assume, who haven't met in a very long time. While there is the veneer of an amiable environment, the whole setting seems curated, forced, and almost clinical. I see the bamboo table, decorated with a Japanese vase of paper daffodils, a full plate of fruit and possibly, by a wide window overlooking the bustling city. It is spring time, I think, but indoors, the room gives the feel of a hospital common room, where patients meet their loved ones over a coffee. Long, slow conversations ensue, nostalgia flows all around — warm, but not in this case.

It seems that both the boy and girl — I'm not exactly sure why they do not give me the impression that they are old and grown adults — cannot meet each other on the same page. So many gorgeous, yet eerily uncomfortable memories, described in perfect detail, but never truly shared by both parties. Their focus is on a different spot of memory within the same frame. It is sad in a beautiful sort of way.

The girl, it seems, does not share the same needy, desperate love as the boy for her. He remembers the sweet moments — the weather and the scenery, while his unnerving actions (that surely give her the ick) remain the clearest to her. She is lonely though, but she would not stoop as low and commit herself to this boy. Her sitting across from him and having this conversation is a final chance given to herself — perhaps he had changed? Maybe he wouldn't talk so much and assume she liked to listen to his endless descriptions. Yet, she leaves in the end, despite him grasping at her mitten, puppy-eyed and yearning. He is the same. Why did she expect him to change? It was a foolish hope. She remains alone, but it is a choice she is unlikely to look back on. The boy is evermore the heartbroken patient, confined in the strange room with nothing but his sweet, one-sided memories.

[Liza M. Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recensione completa su www.pennaecalamaro.com
Un uomo e una donna che si rivedono casualmente dopo anni. Non sappiamo quanti anni abbiano, ma il fatto che accennino al passare degli anni e a un corpo “che ha sempre più freddo” fanno pensare che non siano giovanissimi. Di lei Katherine Mansfield ci dice il nome, Vera. Quello dell’uomo, non viene mai nominato. Non sappiamo neanche dove siano, probabilmente a Londra, considerando il bricco di crema e la frutta che vengono serviti. Il luogo è un non luogo, potrebbero essere ovunque, e l’uomo è un non uomo, potrebbe essere chiunque.
Quello che conta è l’atmosfera che Katherine Mansfield riesce a creare in una manciata di pagine. Vera sembra avvolta in un limbo romantico, ma tutto ciò che ricorda del passato sembra spiacevole, particolari che contrastano con l’immagine che l’uomo vuole dare di sé. Un’immagine che s’infrange anch'essa sui particolari: l’uomo non ricorda un cane, eppure dovrebbe, parla della Russia come se non avesse compreso le complesse vicende politiche in cui era immersa all'epoca, siamo nel 1917 quando viene pubblicato il racconto. Interrompe Vera regolarmente, non l’ascolta. Ha un rapporto meschino col denaro, nonostante sia evidentemente benestante. Il cetriolo sottaceto, il “dill pickle” del titolo, è il sapore acido che Vera deve ingoiare. Che le donne devono ingoiare. Non mi spingo oltre nella metafora, ognuno si crei un suo libero pensiero su quello che Katherine Mansfield volesse sottintendere.
E in tutto questo, Vera come agirà? Vera è una donna che si semplificherebbe la vita se in lui trovasse più lati positivi che negativi. Per questo per un attimo alza il velo. Lo lascerà alzato?

[reader on the shore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katherine Mansfield’s ultra-short stories focus on the rich inner worlds of one or two characters. Her modernist narrative style allows time to flow freely with the characters’ inner monologues, much like daydreaming—when one snaps out of it, they suddenly realize how much time has passed. Loneliness, the longing to be understood, and anxiety about aging are central themes in her work: young characters are just beginning to encounter love beyond the confines of family and school, yet they are too naive to know how to handle the natural stirrings of emotion; middle-aged couples grow apart through interactions with different social circles, losing themselves in the pursuit of misguided validation; even the elderly are capable of deep emotion—only to be struck down the next moment by the very world they embrace.

What unites Mansfield’s characters is their tragic optimism. They are fully aware that their limited financial means make it difficult to reach their ideals, and they understand that beauty, youth, and human connection can vanish in an instant. Yet within their inner lives, they still choose to cling to a kind of almost childlike hope—a belief that something beautiful might still happen.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Archive #18

What is life other than a series of moments?

A small collection of tender, intimate vignettes. Each story focused around characters that felt so immediate and real, even if we only spent a few pages with them. A particular favourite was 'The Tiredness of Rosabel' in which a young girl gets home from work and spends the whole evening fantasising about being whisked away from her slightly dire situation by one of the customers she served at work. On her way home, she cringes at the content of a romance novel someone is reading, but later that evening in her bedroom, all her daydreams are filled with the same silly clichés she disapproved of earlier. The comparison is obviously played for humour, but at the same time there is a soft kind of sadness to it.

Had a lovely time reading this one!

[. ݁₊ ⊹ ໒꒱ lau °. * ୨ ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny story: I picked up the Mansfield title in the new Penguin Archive collection and found it contained 8 of her short stories, of which I have already read 4. This review now deals with the other 4 I have not read: Feuille d’Album, A Dill Pickle, The Tiredness of Rosabel, and Something Childish but very Natural.

Coincidentally, these four fall under a somewhat similar theme: stories of infatuation, delusion, and the hot and sticky driving force that is youthful ardor. I would say that they deal with a certain level of disillusionment and a pivotal shift in perspective – stories of shattering, and subsequently, deciding which of the pieces one reshapes themselves with.

[Christina Cheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't have asked for a better lil book of short stories to accompany me on my silly European vacation. These stories pack a serious punch. Katherine Mansfield was the OG Sally Rooney - I have not really encountered another author who captures the casual cruelty in people’s noblest intentions / genuine humanity as well as she did. I seriously cannot get over how much I loved this, will be recommending to every girlie I know!

[Night veil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of Ego, Regret and Melancholy
The complexity of old emotions resurfacing when two former lovers unexpectedly meet.

Though the plot is understated, Mansfield uses the brief encounter to show how old patterns persist and why some relationships are better left in the past.

As their dialogue unfolds, we see the imbalance that once strained their relationship re-emerge. His self-centered storytelling and his casual dismissal of her feelings gradually erode the warmth of their reunion.

[Rick Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved Katherine Mansfield's writing. Her mix of sweet, salty and bitter really fits my worldview. Moments flitting between bliss and melancholy, between emptiness and delight are so immaculately portrayed with such insight. This small collection of short stories was just right to satisfy a craving for some really luscious character studies.

[Emma Ghiz]

“In the past when they had looked at each other like that they had felt such a boundless understanding between them that their souls had, as it were, put their arms round each other and dropped into the same sea, content to be drowned, like mournful lovers. But now, the surprising thing was that it was he who held back.”

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Behind the rotunda the slender trees with yellow leaves down drooping, and through them just a line of sea, and beyond the blue sky with gold-veined clouds."

"Who could believe the sky at the back wasn't painted?"

a collection of short stories!
the characters in each story had such personality and life to them

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got well sad at the heartbreaks of characters written at the turn of the century, thought of the Jimmy Baldwin line: "You read something which you thought only happened to you, and you discover that it happened 100 years ago to Dostoevsky."