This series showcases the quintessential American short story, capturing the diverse voices and evolving landscape of a nation's literature. Each volume thoughtfully curates selections from both established masters and emerging talents, highlighting the enduring power and artistry of the brief narrative. These anthologies delve into the complexities of American life and the human condition through compelling characters and evocative prose. They offer a rich exploration of literary achievement for readers who appreciate impactful storytelling within a concise form.
An anthology of American short fiction written in the last half of the twentieth century with stories by writers such as Eudora Welty, John Cheever, and Raymond Carver (and forty others) demonstrating how much memorable power can lie in the briefest narration.
In 1992, Richard Ford edited and introduced the first Granta Book of the American Short Story . It became the definitive anthology of American short fiction written in the last half of the twentieth century—an “exemplary choice” in the words of The Washington Post —with stories by Eudora Welty, John Cheever, Raymond Carver, and forty others demonstrating how much memorable power can lie in the briefest narration. In the years since, Ford has been reading new stories and rereading old ones and selecting new favorites. This new collection features more than forty stories, including some he regretted overlooking the first time around, as well as many by a new generation of writers—among them Sherman Alexie, Junot Díaz, Deborah Eisenberg, Nell Freudenberger, Matthew Klam, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Z. Z. Packer. None of the stories (though a few of the writers) were in the first volume. Once again, Ford’s introduction is an illuminating exposition of how a good story is written by a master of the craft.