The Story and Its Writer: An Introduction to Short Fiction

by Ann Charters

Book Overview

Story and Its Writer Compact 2016 MLA Update provides insight into the genre of fiction through commentary from actual writers on the craft and tradition of storytelling. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312171587
• ISBN13: 9780312171582
• Release Date: August 1998
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 1748 Pages
• Weight: 2.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 6.0" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

The Story and Its Writer

There are two versions of this book: regular and "compact", which has significantly less material in it. If you are buying this for a class, make sure you are ordering the correct one.

An Outstanding Collection of Stories and Writers

This anthology was something I stumbled upon in college and completely changed the way I approached reading and writing. The stories are a wide variety and the writers writing about writing is a fantastic resource. This is one of the most precious pieces to my library and a must for any serious reader and writer.

Course Book I Actually Want to Keep Reading

This compilation of short stories was used for my Intro. to the Short Story college course. Our professor only picked out certain stories but I found myself reading unassigned stories myself. Some of these stories are wonderful. My favorite was "The Widow's Son" by Mary Lavin. Some other noteworthy stories: "Hills Like White Elephants" Hemingway, "Girl" by J. Kincaid. Too many more to list, a course book I am actually keeping so I can finish reading it. Usually I can't wait to close them after the course and not see them anymore! :)

Teaching manual at its best

Charters' book is both a great read and a valuable teaching tool. The book lives up to its title: it successfully places the emphasis on the story and its writer rather than on the story and its editor or the story and its teacher. As a textbook/anthology this is sure to be more helpful - and interesting - to students than to read a lot of pedagogical and prescriptive information from a secondhand source. Whether you are a teacher or a student, new to the short story or old hand, the opportunity to read about writers' processes and intentions firsthand is invaluable, and Charters' selection of short stories is exceptional. Charters obviously cares about the project of teaching the short story well, and her dedication shines through in this volume.

The only short story anthology you'll need

Charters has made absoluely wonderful selections for this anthology. Although many of the stories can be considered "southern literature," the book contains an inspiring variety of stories ranging from classic Faulkner to racy Atwood. This is a perfect book for educators or just for anyone who loves to read. With The Short Story and Its Writer, it is impossible to be disappointed.