Great American Short Stories (Barnes & Noble Signature Editions)

From Washington Irving (1783–1859) to F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940), the authors represented in this expansive American short story anthology invite you to see the world as they saw it. Irving's culture-defining tales of American life—"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle"—offer a turn of events that both surprises and chills the reader. In "Bartleby," Herman Melville introduces us to a lawyer whose easy way of life is upended by a mysterious new clerk who denies his authority, perplexes his visitors, and scandalizes his professional reputation. The title character of "Athénaïs," by Kate Chopin, is a new wife who rebels against the submissive role expected of her by her parents and husband. In Willa Cather's "The Sculptor's Funeral," a young man accompanies the body of his friend and mentor from New York to the renowned artist's hometown where no one ever understood him. And Fitzgerald's "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" reveals the treachery of a wealthy man protecting his fortune. Also among the thirty-four stories included in this collection are Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown," Mark Twain's "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Caleveras County," Bret Harte's "The Outcasts of Poker Flat," Henry James's "The Real Right Thing," Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wall-Paper," O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat," and Sherwood Anderson's "The Egg." The legend of Sleepy Hollow -- Rip Van Winkle / Washington Irving -- Young Goodman Brown -- The minister's black veil -- The fall of the house of Usher -- The tell-tale heart -- The purloined letter / Nathaniel Hawthorne / Edgar Allan Poe -- Bartleby / Herman Melville -- My contraband / Louisa May Alcott -- The celebrated jumbing frog of Caleveras County / Mark Twain -- The luck of Roaring Camp -- The outcasts of Poker Flat / Bret Harte -- An occurrance at Owl Creek Bridge / Ambrose Bierce -- The real right thing -- The best in the jungle / Henry James -- A white heron / Sarah Orne Jewett -- Athenaise / Kate Chopin -- The revolt of "Mother" / Mary E. Wilkins Freeman -- The wife of his youth / Charles W. Chestnut -- The yellow wall-paper / Charlotte Perkins Gilman -- The other two -- Autres temps / Edith Wharton -- The ransom of Red Chief -- The gift of the Magi / O. Henry -- The open boat -- The bride comes to Yellow Sky / Stephen Crane -- Build a fire / Jack London -- The sculptor's funeral -- Paul's case / Willa Cather -- Sophistication -- The egg / Sherwood Anderson -- Bernice bobs her hair -- The diamond as big as The Ritz / F. Scott Fitzgerald