First published 2025
This collection brings together more than thirty stories that showcase Gallant's distinctive approach to short fiction. These previously uncollected pieces include "The Accident," "His Mother," "An Autobiography," and "Dedé." Gallant stands among the finest story writers since Cheever, Welty, and O'Connor reached their peaks in the early 1950s. Her work operates differently from writers who perfect existing traditions or push formal boundaries. Instead, Gallant's stories reveal fundamental truths about what short fiction can accomplish. They demonstrate what elements are necessary and what proves sufficient in the form. Her expansive yet precise narratives feel almost experimental in their clarity. Reading these stories provides fresh insight into the essence of short fiction itself. This volume completes the availability of all fiction by this modern master, whose full achievement remains underappreciated despite her exceptional skill.
Genres: short-stories, literary-fiction, 20th-century, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: literary-exploration, underappreciated-genius
Period: 20th-Century, 21st-Century
624 pages · Paperback · NYRB Classics