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W. W. Norton & Company

Short: An International Anthology of Five Centuries of Short-Short Stories, Prose Poems, Brief Essays, and Other Short Prose Forms

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Description

Short offers the tradition and glorious present of these popular forms that stretch and defy genre. From 1500 to present, hundreds of pieces. Inventive, entertaining, and addictive. Short prose forms are elusive to define--one writer's prose poem is another's flash fiction or brief essay. Rather than quibble, Short opts for inclusiveness. Here is a dazzling array: 100s of pieces (under 1250 words) from 24 Western countries, written over five centuries by more than 200 contributors, including major authors of every era. Fables, histories, aphorisms, anecdotes, faux dictionary entries, a faux job application, hint fiction, lists, tableaus, meditations, chants, rants, and much more. Intensely pleasurable. Contributors include: Montaigne, von Kleist, Leopardi, Poe, Baudelaire, Bierce, Chopin, Stein, Jacob, Woolf, Kafka, J. Roth, Toomer, Borges, Queneau, Kunitz, Beckett, Milosz, Cortazar, Paz, Barthes, Calvino, O'Hara, Merwin, Lispector, Transtromer, Sanchez, Edson, Simic, Atwood, Valenzuela, Wideman, L. Davis, Komunyakaa, A. Carson, Forche, Harjo, Hempel, Wenderoth, Keret, B. Marcus, A. Bender, Eggers, B. Lerner, T. Brimhall. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Persea


Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 26, 2014


Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 4


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 24


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.4 x 1 x 8.3 inches


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Full of treasures
Format: Paperback
This much-needed anthology of short prose is sure to become a classic. In researching this volume, Alan Ziegler has cast his net wide to collect samples of short-form prose from different eras and different parts of the world. With entries spanning the 16th through the 20th centuries, on topics ranging from politics to gardening to heavy machinery, the book offers a grand tour of the short form. "Short" is as appropriate for the general reader as it is for use in writing and literature classes. I've bought several copies as gift for friends who have kids and very little time to read. A fascinating and very enjoyable book. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2014 by Laura Brown
    • Fragments
Format: Paperback
Ambiguous literary selections are fragmented without much reasoning or explanation for why they were selected. Leaves a strange and not-entirely-interesting impression. I suppose five centuries of International prose, Etc.. in one anthology is an extremely high order. Still, I am somewhat lost in navigating the book pieces. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2021 by MW
    • Four Stars
Format: Paperback
A fine collection of short works from a range of times and places. Glad to have read it.
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2017 by Paul T. Corrigan
    • Wonderful Anthology
Format: Paperback
So far, one of two of my favorite collections of short-form writings (Best of Brevity being the other). A joy to read.
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2025 by S. Lee
    • Tastefully done.
Format: Kindle
Review Image by Stephen M. Page
An erudite historical examination of the evolution of short form literature with persuasive explanations and effective examples.
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2023 by Stephen M. Page
    • Excellent book of flash fiction
Format: Kindle
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves contemporary poetry or flash. A wide range of examples from turn of the century to modern times.
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2024 by Kim Salinas Silva
    • A bit disappointing
Format: Paperback
I was a bit disappointed in this anthology. It covers the territory, but I was not drawn in to many of the chosen pieces.
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2021 by Auntie Annie
    • Four Stars
Format: Paperback
Not my favorite genre, but a good selection.
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2017 by Terry Barber

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