Fiction: A Pocket Anthology: Fifth Edition

by R.S. Gwynn (Editor)

The perfect alternative to lengthy fiction anthologies, this brief, inexpensive, and diverse collection of 42 short stories provides a concise yet complete introduction to the study of fiction. Chronologically organized, the diverse selection includes the discipline's most popular short stories. An “Introduction to Fiction” provides an overview of the genre, defining key literary terms in context. “Writing about Fiction” offers instruction for writing essays and covers MLA style citation. Biographical headnotes highlight common themes and ideas in the author’s body of work. Individuals who want a brief overview of the study of poetry.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Anthologies, Classics

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

R.S. Gwynn, known as a "new formalist" poet, received a BA from Davidson College, where he twice won the Vereen Bell Award for Creative Writing, and he earned both an MA and an MFA from the University of Arkansas, where he won the John Gould Fletcher Award for Poetry. Gwynn has also won the Michael Braude Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

He is the author of several collections of poetry, including No Word of Farewell: Selected Poems 1970–2000; The Narcissiad (1982), a book-length satirical poem; and The Drive-In (1986), winner of the Breakthrough Award from the University of Missouri Press. Gwynn has taught at Lamar University since 1976. He lives in Beaumont, Texas.

Reviews

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories themselves are great but the typos throughout the book were embarrassing -- and I was using this book with students :(

[Marck Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for a class on reading and writing fiction, this is your basic collection of short stories, most well-known, spanning a period from the late 19th through the late 20th centuries. Particular favorites in this collection include the stories by William Faulkner, Andre Dubus, Joyce Carol Oates, and Flannery O'Connor.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, I am amazed at the talent of writers like Alice Munro, Flannery O'Conner, Eudora Welty and the whole gang. It's all here. What a wonderful book for a short sit down to take your mind off the world. A great collection of short stories.

[Joe Mossa · Rating 3 out of 5]

famous short stories,some good,some bad,some funny,some sad,some average.

[eliza]

Again, this is the anthology I'm teaching from for next semester's Art of Fiction class at UMass-Boston.

[Amy Kitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of these stories I have read before. It was nice to go back and read them again. I'm teaching from this book for a Comp II class this fall.

[Molly]

A selection of some very good short stories. I really enjoyed this.