The best short stories of 1919, and the yearbook of the American short story

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

23445

Title

The best short stories of 1919, and the yearbook of the American short story

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Edited by Edward J. O'Brien, this volume chronicles the American short story from late 1918 to 1919, featuring works by Sherwood Anderson, Djuna Barnes, Anzia Yezierska, and others. It offers a critical look at the era's literature, contrasting commercial optimism with the harsh realities of post-war life, immigration, and social stratification.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1919, *The Best Short Stories of 1919, and the Yearbook of the American Short Story* serves as both a literary anthology and a critical survey of American fiction at the close of World War I. Edited by Edward J. O'Brien, the volume collects narratives from major American magazines between November 1918 and September 1919, offering a comprehensive snapshot of the era's literary landscape. O'Brien opens with a sharp critique drawn from Waldo Frank's *Our America*, arguing that American literature often suffers from a disconnect between mature physical realities and infantile spiritual motivations. He contends that the nation's fiction frequently indulges in wish-fulfillment rather than confronting social diseases or national weaknesses, creating a disconnect between the reader's adult consciousness and the simplistic, fairy-tale resolutions offered by commercial writers. The anthology features a diverse array of voices and settings, reflecting the post-war zeitgeist. Anzia Yezierska's "The Fat of the Land" stands out as a poignant drama of immigrant life. It follows Hanneh Breineh, an elderly mother who finds herself alienated by her children's rapid assimilation and success in America. While her offspring achieve immense wealth and status, Hanneh feels trapped in a "cold world" where her traditional role as a cook and homemaker is obsolete. The story explores the crushing weight of social ambition and the tragedy of an old soul unable to bridge the generational and cultural gap with her prosperous but emotionally distant children. Other notable contributions include Sherwood Anderson's psychological exploration of awakening, Djuna Barnes's surreal narrative involving horses, and James Branch Cabell's satirical wedding jest. Beyond the fiction, the book functions as a statistical yearbook, providing data on magazine publication trends, biographical notes on authors, and an index of stories. This supplementary material contextualizes the narratives within the broader publishing industry of the time. Ultimately, the collection documents a pivotal moment in American literature, capturing the tension between optimism and the harsh realities of social change, while highlighting the significant loss of artistic integrity when writers compromise their truths for commercial success.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Short Stories
• American Fiction
• Bibliography
• Indexes