Contents

• The technique of the modern short story: I. Focusing of the story
• II. The point of view
• III. Order and movement
• IV. Character-drawing
• V. Setting
• VI. Two special kinds of technique
• VII. Constraints and variables
• Specimens of the modern short story: Section one: Unlighted lamps / Sherwood Anderson
• In necessity’s mortar / James Branch Cabell
• Ashes / Julia Peterkin
• The last day / Michel Corday
• Section two: Dusting / John McIntyre
• The singing lesson / Katherine Mansfield
• Grandma / Thrya Samter Winslow
• The Punch and Judy Show / Mary Lispenard Cooper
• The mouse / Laura Spencer Portor
• A son of the gods / Ambrose Bierce
• "Cafard" / John Galsworthy
• Section three: The almond tree / Walker de la Mare
• Laughter / L.N. Andreyev
• The first short dress / Huguette Garnier
• The mystery of Stella / E. Barrington
• Section four: The doll in the pink silk dress / Leonard Merrick
• Amy Foster / Joseph Conrad
• The man in a case / Anton Chekhov
• The two business men / Mary Johnston
• Gabriel-Ernest / "Saki" (H.H. Munro)
• Little Miss Millett / Marin Armstrong
• Section five: About the lillies of Sanluigi / Frederick Baron Corvo
• Four meetings / Henry James
• The sign of the broken sword / G.K. Chesterton
• Section six: Sailor! sailor! / Wilbur Daniel Steele
• Biographical notes
• An analysis of Joseph Conrad’s story "Amy Foster"
• Suggested additional reading