Reviews
"Joyce Carol Oates, a master fabulist who is also one of our finest critics, has given us a treasury that represents the astonishing range of the American short story. But instead of another showcase of 'greatest hits,' Oates ventures further afield, to uncover a series of neglected butrefulgent gems. This is a collection with guts--and brains. Best of all, it's a collection that unfolds, as its editor promises, the larger story of American writing, in all its hues and timbres."--Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Harvard University, "I have taught the tradition "survey course" in the American Short Storysince 1964--Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism, Modernism. It is not possible toteach that kind of traditional course using this text. This had opened upwonderful possibilities for me. I am now teaching the course as a "themescourse," since the stories are linked thematically. But I am also teaching itas a course in "how to write stories." I have combined it with my creativewriting class."--Professor John Gilgun, Mo. West. College, "Provides a history of not only the evolution of the short story, but also of American culture....The collection is more than a survey of writing styles. It is a celebration of the diversity of American culture."--Denver Post, "Readers who take an encompassing view of American literature and culture will love this book, which brilliantly captures the range and heft of the remarkable American contribution to the short story genre. With penetrating introductions by Joyce Carol Oates to each writer, this is ananthology of the finest kind, a collection of stories dazzling in variety but unified by an editor of singular intelligence and vision."--Arnold Rampersad, Princeton University, "Joyce Carol Oates has cast her net further and deeper, drawing fromAmerican literature's impressive past and substantial culturalwealth....Exceptional."--Booklist, "Provides a history of not only the evolution of the short story, but also of American culture....The collection is more than a survey of writing styles. It is a celebration of the diversity of American culture."--Denver Post"Joyce Carol Oates has cast her net further and deeper, drawing from American literature's impressive past and substantial cultural wealth....Exceptional."--Booklist"Readers who take an encompassing view of American literature and culture will love this book, which brilliantly captures the range and heft of the remarkable American contribution to the short story genre. With penetrating introductions by Joyce Carol Oates to each writer, this is an anthology of the finest kind, a collection of stories dazzling in variety but unified by an editor of singular intelligence and vision."--Arnold Rampersad, Princeton University"Joyce Carol Oates, a master fabulist who is also one of our finest critics, has given us a treasury that represents the astonishing range of the American short story. But instead of another showcase of 'greatest hits,' Oates ventures further afield, to uncover a series of neglected but refulgent gems. This is a collection with guts--and brains. Best of all, it's a collection that unfolds, as its editor promises, the larger story of American writing, in allits hues and timbres."--Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Harvard University"Whether for the classroom or the bedtable, The Oxford Book of American Short Stories is indispensable, the best fiction selected and introduced by one of America's finest writers. It's a treasure!"--Cathy N. Davidson, Duke University"I have taught the tradition 'survey course' in the American Short Story since 1964--Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism, Modernism. It is not possible to teach that kind of traditional course using this text. This had opened up wonderful possibilities for me. I am now teaching the course as a "themes course," since the stories are linked thematically. But I am also teaching it as a course in "how to write stories." I have combined it with my creative writingclass."--Professor John Gilgun, Mo. West. College, "Joyce Carol Oates has cast her net further and deeper, drawing from American literature's impressive past and substantial cultural wealth....Exceptional."--Booklist, "Readers who take an encompassing view of American literature and culturewill love this book, which brilliantly captures the range and heft of theremarkable American contribution to the short story genre. With penetratingintroductions by Joyce Carol Oates to each writer, this is an anthology of thefinest kind, a collection of stories dazzling in variety but unified by aneditor of singular intelligence and vision."--Arnold Rampersad, PrincetonUniversity, "Whether for the classroom or the bedtable, The Oxford Book of AmericanShort Stories is indispensable, the best fiction selected and introduced by oneof America's finest writers. It's a treasure!"--Cathy N. Davidson, DukeUniversity, "Provides a history of not only the evolution of the short story, but alsoof American culture....The collection is more than a survey of writing styles.It is a celebration of the diversity of American culture."--Denver Post, "Whether for the classroom or the bedtable, The Oxford Book of American Short Stories is indispensable, the best fiction selected and introduced by one of America's finest writers. It's a treasure!"--Cathy N. Davidson, Duke University, "Joyce Carol Oates, a master fabulist who is also one of our finestcritics, has given us a treasury that represents the astonishing range of theAmerican short story. But instead of another showcase of 'greatest hits,' Oatesventures further afield, to uncover a series of neglected but refulgent gems.This is a collection with guts--and brains. Best of all, it's a collection thatunfolds, as its editor promises, the larger story of American writing, in allits hues and timbres."--Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Harvard University, "I have taught the tradition 'survey course' in the American Short Story since 1964--Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism, Modernism. It is not possible to teach that kind of traditional course using this text. This had opened up wonderful possibilities for me. I am now teaching the course as a"themes course," since the stories are linked thematically. But I am also teaching it as a course in "how to write stories." I have combined it with my creative writing class."--Professor John Gilgun, Mo. West. College
