The Short Story (Genres in Context) by Charles E. May


The Short Story (Genres in Context)
Title : The Short Story (Genres in Context)
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 041593883X
ISBN-10 : 9780415938839
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 182
Publication : First published January 12, 1995

The short story is one of the most difficult types of prose to write and one of the most pleasurable to read. From Boccaccio's Decameron to The Collected Stories of Reynolds Price , Charles May gives us an understanding of the history and structure of this demanding form of fiction. Beginning with a general history of the genre, he moves on to focus on the nineteenth-century when the modern short story began to come into focus. From there he moves on to later nineteenth-century realism and early twentieth-century formalism and finally to the modern renaissance of the form that shows no signs of abating. A chronology of significant events, works and figures from the genre's history, notes and references and an extensive bibliographic essay with recommended reading round out the volume.

The Short Story (Genres in Context) Reviews

  • Steven

    Designed as an introductory text on the Anglo-American/European short story, this one is organized historically. After a brief cast back to the short story's origins in mythology and the tales from the Middle Ages (Boccacio, Chaucer), May jumps right into the nineteenth century (Poe, Hawthorne) and the early practitioners. Realism, formalism, both in their 19th and 20th century versions are explored. Stays focused on realism and pretty much skips over postmodernism with basically a mention of Donald Barthelme. Has a nice bibliographic essay and an extended list of recommended texts. Good notes and index, so plenty of avenues for further study.

  • Earline

    A good overview of the history of the short story, although history doesn't really get interesting until postmodernism. I would recommend reading at least a few of the stories discussed, as well as a basic background in short stories before approaching this book.