Modern Short Stories: A Book for High Schools

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

62942

Title

Modern Short Stories: A Book for High Schools

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Edited by Frederick Houk Law, this 1921 collection offers high school students a modern anthology of short stories focusing on contemporary life and diverse narrative styles. Featuring works by Richard Harding Davis and others, the book provides action, quick pacing, and themes relevant to present-day thought, guiding young readers toward healthful literary appreciation.

Summary up to 500 words

Modern Short Stories: A Book for High Schools, edited by Frederick Houk Law, presents a curated collection of contemporary fiction designed to replace outdated, lengthy novels in secondary education. Law argues that high school students crave action, climax, and modern themes, often turning to cheap magazines for relief when faced with dry, historical novels. This anthology addresses that need by offering stories of present-day life by leading authors of the era, aiming to guide student taste during formative years and cultivate healthy reading habits for adulthood. The volume serves as both a reading resource and a teaching tool, featuring a preface by Law that outlines the short story's vital role in developing literary appreciation. The collection illustrates diverse construction methods and styles, ranging from the psychological tension of Richard Harding Davis's "On the Fever Ship" to the classic deductive mystery of "The Red-headed League" featuring Sherlock Holmes. Other tales explore supernatural elements, animal life, local color, and moral dilemmas, providing a comprehensive survey of fiction types. To support students with limited prior reading experience, the book includes biographies, notes, and explanations tailored to help them navigate the text without becoming discouraged. By presenting stories that reflect current issues and thought, the anthology seeks to make students more aware of their world and better citizens. The inclusion of works by active authors ensures the material remains relevant, allowing students to gain knowledge of various narrative techniques that cannot be achieved through the study of dead authors alone. Ultimately, the book fulfills the educational goal of fostering artistic effects in fiction and providing happy hours in the classroom for both teachers and pupils.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62942.epub.noimages

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data/epubs/pg62942.epub

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2026-08-13 14:03 UTC

Categories

• Short Stories
• Fiction