by Jerome Beaty
First published 1991
Jerome Beaty presents a comprehensive introduction to fiction through carefully selected stories that span cultures and literary traditions. The collection brings together 54 works from established masters like Joseph Conrad, Eudora Welty, and Edith Wharton alongside contemporary voices including Toni Cade Bambara, Ha Jin, and Charles Baxter. Beaty structures the book to develop reading skills progressively, moving from basic comprehension to critical evaluation. Students encounter stories within multiple frameworks, examining how authorial background, cultural context, and social conditions shape meaning. Special attention goes to border narratives by writers like Rudolfo Anaya and Denise Chávez, as well as explorations of different fictional forms from short shorts to novels. The book includes practical writing guidance, student paper examples, and accessible explanations of critical theory without academic jargon.
Genres: literary-criticism, american-fiction, academic
Vibes: educational, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, anthology
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century, 21st-Century
683 pages · Paperback · W W Norton & Co Inc (Np)