Norton Book of American Short Stories

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Summary: Not the Ordinary, Standard American Short Story Anthology
Review: College instructors like me tend to find the same stories anthologized over and again in countless textbooks. My decision to offer the Prescott volume in a recent class provided me and my students access to stories we wouldn't ordinarily see in books specifically intended to be read in literature classes. For every familiar piece, like Walker's "Everyday Use," one finds a relatively obscure treasure, like Loos' "Liquor Makes You Smart." Sure, the standard, canonized authors are here, but instead of Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily," we get "Wash"; we also get Hughes' "Slave on the Block," Lardner's "Champion," Cather's "Paul's Case," and other works not often the predictable choices for textbook editors. This collection would have been a treat to read for fun, but I consider it an interesting, challenging textbook for class, as well. I wish only that it would be more representative of American ethnic diversity--a shortcoming I overcame by assigning an additional short story collection for my students. Still, Prescott's anthology contains many enjoyable works; in my opinion, Elkin's "A Poetics for Bullies" alone should make any reader glad to have picked up this book.

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Summary: Indeed a collection off the beaten track
Review: This valuable collection is not only comprehensive, but also off the beaten track. It contains an amazing variety of short stories, including some of the well-known masterpieces. My favorites in this collection are "The swimmer" (an outstanding example of the grotesque), as well as the thrilling story about "The baby in the ice-box" (sheer captivating story-telling). Rarely had so much fun reading a short story. There are many less funny stories here as well, if you prefer. And you meet many famous writers in little-known stories, which are quite characteristic. Even O Henry is present with a true masterpiece.

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Summary: If You're a Short Story Writer, Buy This Book
Review: With "The Lemon Table" by Julian Barnes hitting 159 on the Amazon sales list, Zoetrope's online short story workshop is all a-buzz that shorts may be on the comeback. Despite the demise of what used to be a thriving magazine markets for shorts, brought on decades ago on by the advent of TV, hope springs eternal.

Nevertheless it's true: the best training ground for budding novelists is writing shorts. Witness all the famous novelist in this anthology.

Prescott presents a top-knotch selection of short stories from the 19th through the 20th centuries, when the art was in its heyday. Also, his discussion in the Introduction about the short story form is excellent.