Atlantic Narratives: Modern Short Stories

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Atlantic Narratives: Modern Short Stories

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

A curated collection of twenty-three modern short stories from the Atlantic Monthly, featuring diverse authors like John Galsworthy and E. Nesbit. The anthology explores themes of character, plot, and unified impression, offering a rich tapestry of human experience from the American prairie to European war zones.

Summary up to 500 words

Atlantic Narratives: Modern Short Stories, compiled by Cornelia A. P. Comer and first published in 1918, presents a curated collection of narratives originally featured in the Atlantic Monthly. The anthology showcases the evolution of the short story genre, emphasizing Edgar Allan Poe's principle of the 'unified impression.' This cohesive effect is achieved through various methods, primarily the domination of a single character or the tight interweaving of plot incidents. The volume balances commercial themes with deep character studies, utilizing diverse settings ranging from chemical laboratories to the American plains. The collection highlights the power of character portrayal to secure unity. In Bret Harte's 'Tennessee's Partner,' the story's impact relies on the devoted loyalty of a partner rather than the protagonist's name. Similarly, Margaret Sherwood's 'The Clearest Voice' demonstrates how the personality of a deceased wife can silently govern a household's ethical decisions. Other stories explore character depth through contrasting personalities, as seen in Arthur Russell Taylor's 'Mr. Squem,' where a crude salesman reveals a large-hearted nature amidst a railroad wreck, or in the psychological journey of Timmy Zimmerman in Cornelia A. P. Comer's 'The Wealth of Timmy Zimmerman.' Alternatively, unity is secured through dramatic plot construction. Ernest Starr's 'The Clearer Sight' illustrates this with a young scientist whose ethical crisis and subsequent confession resolve a scientific and romantic dilemma. The anthology also captures the stark realism of war in Madeleine Z. Doty's 'Little Brother,' which confronts the horrors faced by children, and the mystical atmosphere of E. Nesbit's 'The Marble Child.' Themes of sacrifice are central to F. J. Louriet's 'What Road Goeth He?,' while Katharine Fullerton Gerould's 'A Moth of Peace' explores the psychology of fear and victory in the face of impending war. Ultimately, the stories demonstrate that while methods vary, the best narratives maintain a cohesive design, guiding readers through emotional landscapes that reveal profound truths about loyalty, morality, and the human spirit.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Short Stories
• Fiction