Anthologies & Short Stories

Book SynopsisPublished soon after Fitzgerald's debut novel This Side of Paradise, Flappers and Philosophers was the author's first collection of short fiction, a form through which he had gained notoriety in newspapers and magazines. The familiar themes of aspiration and social satire already permeate his writing: in 'Bernice Bobs Her Hair' the fashionable Marjorie attempts to turn her dowdy cousin into a debutante, before betraying her out of jealousy, while 'The Ice Palace' features a Southern belle whose engagement to a Northerner finds her confronted with a cultural clash between tradition and modernity. Also containing 'The Offshore Pirate', 'Head and Shoulders', 'The Cut-Glass Bowl', 'Benediction', 'Dalyrimple Goes Wrong' and 'The Four Fists', this volume of stories illustrates the early stages of Fitzgerald's development as a writer and provides an entertaining chronicle of America in the 1910s.Trade ReviewHe was better than he knew, for in fact and in the literary sense he invented a generation. * The New York Times *

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Book Synopsis***OVER A MILLION COPIES OF THE IRON DRUID BOOKS SOLD***''American Gods meets Jim Butcher''s Harry Dresden'' SFF WorldDiscover this action-packed collection of short stories featuring Atticus O''Sullivan - the two-thousand-year-old tattooed Irishman with extraordinary powers from Kevin Hearne''s New York Times bestselling Iron Druid Chronicles.- In ancient Egypt, Atticus raids a secret chamber underneath the library of Alexandria, dodging deadly traps, only to learn that on-site security includes two members of the Egyptian pantheon . . .- During the Gold Rush, the avatar of greed himself turns the streets of San Francisco red with blood and upsets the elemental Sequoia. Atticus may have to fight fire with fire if he''s going to restore balance . . . - In olde England, striking up a friendship with William Shakespeare lands both Atticus and the Bard in boiling hot water with a trio of infamousTrade ReviewAtticus and his crew are a breath of fresh air! . . . I love, love, love this series * My Bookish Ways *This is one series no fantasy fan should miss. Mystery, suspense, magic and mayhem * SciFiChick *Entertaining, steeped in a ton of mythology, populated by awesome characters * Civilian Reader *

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Book SynopsisA carriage transporting ten passengers fleeing from Rouen is stopped at a village inn by Prussian soldiers, who decide to detain them until one of their party, the prostitute Boule de Suif, consents to sleep with their officer. When Boule de Suif refuses to do so on account of her principles and patriotic sentiments, the solidarity initially manifested by her fellow travellers becomes increasingly tested as the deadlock continues, and the strained relationship between her and her “respectable” counterparts gradually worsens. A scathing satire of bourgeois prejudice and hypocrisy and a compelling snapshot of France during the 1870 Franco-Prussian War, ‘Boule de Suif’ – here presented with five other major stories by the author of Bel Ami – was declared a masterpiece by Flaubert and is widely considered to be Maupassant’s finest short story.Trade ReviewAn exceedingly sharp satire of flexible French morals among different classes during the nineteenth-century German occupation. * The Guardian *Table of ContentsContains:Boule de Suif, The Confession, First Snow, Rose, The Dowry, Bed 29

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Book SynopsisIn an examination of his laudanum addiction and the dreams and visions the drug engendered, Thomas De Quincey lays bare the celestial pleasures and infernal lows of an existence dependent on “subtle and mighty opium”. At once moving and rhapsodic, and suffused with a poetic and lyrical beauty, Confessions of an English Opium-Eater hauntingly evokes frightful scenes and phantasmagorical night-time wanderings, while reality, dream and memory blur and intertwine in a nebulous and protean haze. Published anonymously in The London Magazine, the Confessions were an immediate success, and soon speculation was rife as to the identity of the mysterious Opium-Eater. The work, which introduced the literary world to De Quincey’s unique “impassioned prose”, is now widely deemed to be De Quincey’s masterpiece.Trade ReviewMy heart trembled through from end to end… What a poet that man is! How he vivifies words, and deepens them, and gives them profound significance! -- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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Book Synopsis''The Queen and the bat had been talking a good deal that afternoon...''The Victorian fascination with fairyland vivified the literature of the period, and led to some of the most imaginative fairy tales ever written. They offer the shortest path to the age''s dreams, desires, and wishes. Authors central to the nineteenth-century canon such as W. M. Thackeray, Oscar Wilde, Ford Madox Ford, and Rudyard Kipling wrote fairy tales, and authors primarily famous for their work in the genre include George MacDonald, Juliana Ewing, Mary De Morgan, and Andrew Lang. This anthology brings together fourteen of the best stories, by these and other outstanding practitioners, to show the vibrancy and variety of the form and its abilities to reflect our deepest concerns.In tales of whimsy and romance, witty satire and uncanny mystery, love, suffering, family, and the travails of identity are imaginatively explored. Michael Newton''s Introduction and notes provide illuminating contextual and biographicTrade ReviewA handsome volume containing some spectacularly good fairy stories. * Paul Norman, Books Monthly *Whimsical or romantic, sharply satirical or fogged with mystery, these powerful tales by the likes of Thackeray, Wilde, and doyenne of the genre, Mary De Morgan, probe the deepest human concerns, while reflecting the more of the period. * The Lady *this collection does show why the fairy tale can be so irresistable, for both nostalgic and romantic reasons. * Eve Wersocki Morris, Times Literary Supplement *With reproductions of some of the original black and white illustrations by (among others) Arthur Hughes and Walter Crane, a silken bookmark and a truly glorious cover, Victorian Fairy Tales is a perfect gift volume for both adults and older children. Rather like the stories themselves, the book works beautifully on two levels, both as a collection of fairy tales to be read and enjoyed for their own sake and with its appendix and copious explanatory notes as a detailed and fascinating window into the Victorian mind. * Vulpes Libris, Moira Briggs *What a delightful place is fairyland and there is no more delightful guide to explore it with than Michael Newton. Truly a book to treasure. * Northern Echo, Steve Craggs *What Michael Newton has done here is no easy feat: creating a collection of fairy tales that is both entertaining and educational... Newton's Victorian Fairy Tales is a beguiling and dynamic anthology. * The Writer's Drawer, Stephen Reeves *"Tales of magic and wonder and good triumphant: Could there be better reading for the afterglow of Christmas? Many of the stories in Michael Newton's superb Victorian Fairy Tales are also deliciously witty, even winkingly postmodern, since their authors frequently parody, pastiche or otherwise write against the received tradition of the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault." -- The Washington PostThis is not your average fairy tale book by any means. Witty, tongue-in-cheek references that adults will howl over while entertaining every child. A true delight. * NetGalley *Table of ContentsIntroductionNote on the TextsSelect BibliographyA Chronology of the Victorian Fairy TalePROLOGUEGrimm, 'Rumpel-Stilts-Kin'Hans Christian Andersen, 'The Princess and the Peas'VICTORIAN FAIRY TALESRobert Southey, 'The Story of the Three Bears'John Ruskin, 'The King of the Golden River'William Makepeace Thackeray, 'The Rose and the Ring'George MacDonald, 'The Golden Key'Dinah Mulock Craik, 'The Little Lame Prince and His Travelling Cloak'Mary De Morgan, 'The Wanderings of Arasmon'Juliana Horatia Ewing, 'The First Wife's Wedding Ring'Oscar Wilde, 'The Selfish Giant'Andrew Lang, 'Prince Prigio'Ford Madox Ford, 'The Queen Who Flew'Laurence Housman, 'The Story of the Herons'Kenneth Grahame, 'The Reluctant Dragon'E. Nesbit, 'Melisande'Rudyard Kipling, 'Dymchurch Flit'APPENDIX: What is a Fairy Tale?'John Ruskin, 'Introduction' to German Popular TalesJuliana Horatia Ewing, 'Preface' to Old-Fashioned Fairy TalesGeorge MacDonald, 'The Fantastic Imagination'Laurence Housman, 'Introduction' to Gammer Grethel's Fairy TalesExplanatory Notes

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Book SynopsisThe sublime city of Venice has long offered inspiration to the world's storytellers. This anthology gathers a dazzling variety of stories with Venetian settings, including Daphne du Maurier's haunting "Don't Look Now," Anthony Trollope's wartime romance "The Last Austrian Who Left Venice," Vernon Lee's spine-chilling "A Wicked Voice," and a scene from The Wings of the Dove, Henry James's tale of passion and betrayal in a Gothic palazzo on the Grand Canal. The famed Venetian adventurer Giacomo Casanova weighs in with escapades from his notorious Memoirs, alongside enthralling selections by Baron Corvo, Marcel Proust, Camillo Boito, and Jeanette Winterson. In its multifaceted portrait of La Serenissima, Venice Stories showcases a lineup of literary classics worthy of the magnificent city they celebrate.

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Book SynopsisUniversally acclaimed as the master of the short-story form, Anton Chekhov begun his literary career as the author of brief tales and vignettes of Russian life when he was still a young medical student. Later rejected by the writer in the same self-effacing way in which he repudiated some of his most celebrated works, the stories in this collection are not only a testament to the early promise of his genius, but deserve to be appreciated for their lapidary vividness and their intrinsic stylistic quality. Mostly dealing with the lives of downtrodden "little" men and low-ranking civil servants as they steer their actions through the corruption and malpractice of Russian public officials, this volume - here presented in Stephen Pimenoff's lively new translation - bristles with wit and humour, and is tinged by that understated note of melancholy and lyricism that is a trademark of Chekhov's writing.

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Book SynopsisTHE BESTSELLING LITERARY SENSATION FROM BRAZIL'A blaze of heat, love and risk that will leave you reeling.' DBC Pierre'An extraordinary writer.' Misha GlennyLONGLISTED FOR THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FIRST BOOK AWARDA FINANCIAL TIMES AND SPECTATOR BOOK OF THE YEARCapturing the texture of life growing up in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, the stories in The Sun on My Head tell us of days lived under incredible heat - and under the shadow of a ubiquitous drug culture, the constant threat of the police, and the confines of poverty, violence and racism. They are also hauntingly beautiful portrayals of friendship, romance and momentary release from the oppressions of everyday life. The Sun on My Head is a debut work of great talent and sensitivity, a daring evocation of life in the favelas by a rising star rooted in the very community he portrays.

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Book SynopsisMany medieval writers, especially from France and Wales, wrote stories about the great British leader that was King Arthur. Legends, folklore and myths from this period come together to paint a picture of who he was. Some describe him as a great warrior, defending Britain from its enemies, while others suggest Arthur had magical qualities. Throughout this mystery, King Arthur has become an iconic figure, known for his court and knights, all over the world. This collection offers a selection of myths, featuring Arthur’s knights of the round table, his love for Queen Guinevere and of course the ultimate betrayal by one of his most trusted knights, Sir Launcelot. All awaken the magical and exciting world of King Arthur. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and myth, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.

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Book SynopsisOne of Tolstoy’s last published works of fiction, The Devil revolves around the young landowner Yevgeny’s irrepressible lust for Stepanida, a sensual peasant woman. Even when he gets married to a respectable upper-class lady, he finds himself unable to put an end to his encounters with Stepanida, and becomes increasingly consumed by guilt and helplessness in the face of his urges. In some ways comparable to the controversial Kreutzer Sonata, The Devil shows Tolstoy at his most salacious, and addresses the conflicts between desire, social norms and personal conscience. Also included in this volume is Family Happiness, one of Tolstoy’s earliest works, an entertaining and cynical account of marriage from the perspective of a disillusioned wife, and A Landowner’s Morning.

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1831, Belkin's Stories was the first completed work of fiction by the founding father of Russian literature. Through a series of interlinked stories purporting to have been told by various narrators to the recently deceased country squire Ivan Belkin, Pushkin offers his own variation on themes and genres that were popular in his day and provides a vivid portrayal of the Russian people. From the story of revenge served cold in 'The Shot' to the havoc wreaked by a blizzard on the life of two young lovers, from the bittersweet tones of 'The Station Master' to the supernatural atmosphere of 'The Undertaker', this collection - presented here in a brand-new translation by Roger Clarke - sparkles with humour and is a testament to the brilliance and versatility of Pushkin's mind.Trade ReviewPushkin is an extraordinary phenomenon, perhaps the only phenomenon of the Russian spirit. -- Nikolai GogolTable of ContentsContains: The Shot, The Blizzard, The Undertaker, The Postmaster, Young Miss Peasant, A History of Goryukhino Village

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Book SynopsisThis anthology of rare stories of crime and suspense brings together 15 tales from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction for the first time in book form, including newly discovered stories by Dorothy L. Sayers and Edmund Crispin that have never previously been published.With the Golden Age of detective fiction shining ever more brightly thanks to the recent reappearance of many forgotten crime novels, Bodies from the Library offers a rare opportunity to read lost stories from the first half of the twentieth century by some of the genre's most accomplished writers.This second volume is a showcase for popular figures of the Golden Age, in stories that even their most ardent fans will not be aware of. It includes uncollected and unpublished stories by acclaimed queens and kings of crime fiction, from Helen Simpson, Ethel Lina White, E.C.R. Lorac, Christianna Brand, Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, to S.S. Van Dine, Jonathan Latimer, Clayton Rawson, Cyril Alington and Antony and Peter Trade Review‘Ingenious, unique and perfectly curated’ Dorset Book Detective ‘This is one of the best mixed anthologies I’ve come across … If you’re already a vintage crime fan, then this is one to grab; and if you’re new to the genre, then you’ll find this a very enjoyable way to introduce yourself to some of the greats. Highly recommended!’ FictionFanBlog ‘Rather like a box of chocolates … The sheer variety of tales means there will be something for everyone.’ Cross Examining Crime ‘The prize gems of this entertaining and informative anthology must be a previously unpublished Dorothy L. Sayers (featuring Lord Peter Wimsey) and Edmund Crispin (featuring Gervase Fen). If for those alone, it is worth stepping over the bodies in the library to grab this volume off the shelf.’ Mike Ripley ‘I think I've learned more from [Tony Medawar’s] researches than from the research of any other Golden Age fan’ Martin Edwards, doyouwriteunderyourownname.blogspot.co.uk ‘A stunning array of lost stories’ Puzzle Doctor, classicmystery.wordpress.com

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Book Synopsis''Wonderful . . . all killer, no filler'' Red Magazine''Dazzling stories, as inventive as they are inspiring'' Daily Mirror''Where power and feminist rage meet'' Stylist______________________________A fun and fearless anthology of feminist tales, by fifteen bestselling, award-winning writers:Margaret Atwood, Susie Boyt, Eleanor Crewes, Emma Donoghue, Stella Duffy, Linda Grant, Claire Kohda, CN Lester, Kirsty Logan, Caroline O''Donoghue, Chibundu Onuzo, Helen Oyeyemi, Rachel Seiffert, Kamila Shamsie and Ali Smith - introduced by Sandi Toksvig. DRAGON. TYGRESS. SHE-DEVIL. HUSSY. SIREN. WENCH. HARRIDAN. MUCKRAKER. SPITFIRE. VITUPERATOR. CHURAIL. TERMAGANT. FURY. WARRIOR. VIRAGO. For centuries past, and all across the world, there are words that have defined and decried us. Words that raise our hackles, fire up our blood; words that tell a story.In this blazing cauldron of a book, fifteen bestselling, award-winning writers have taken up their pens and reclaimed these words, creating an entertaining and irresistible collection of feminist tales for our time.''A slick collection of clever tales, with something for bluestockings and banshees alike'' Guardian''Delightful, thought-provoking'' Louisa Young, PerspectivesTrade ReviewThis anthology is all killer, no filler * Red Magazine *A slick collection of clever tales, with something for bluestockings and banshees alike * Observer *Some are historical, some are infused with the mystical and magical, some have threads of fierce commentary and some are laugh-out-loud funny. All of them fizz with energy, meaning and page-turner plots * The Scotsman *Delightful and thought-provoking * Perspective *Spell-binding . . . these vivid works of imagination are further proof that, back in 1973, Virago's founder Carmen Calil was on to something -- Kiran Duggal * Harper's Bazaar *A collection of dazzling stories, as inventive as they are inspiring * Daily Mirror *A collection of wild works by wild women is the perfect tribute to Virago's impact and legacy * Tortoise Media *Some stories are historical, some are infused with the mystical and magical, some have threads of fierce commentary and some are laugh-out-loud funny. All of them fizz with energy, meaning and page-turner plots * The Press and Journal *Definitely where power and feminist rage meet * Stylist *[Furies addresses] the full panoply of 'isms' such as racism, ageism, heroism, terrorism, and classism, all congregated under feminism * Irish Examiner *

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Book Synopsis'Sestanovich’s elegant prose takes seriously the quiet unrest that can ravage a life' - Raven Leilani, author of LusterA Best Book of the Summer in The Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly,Vogue, Esquire and Refinery29A university student is flying home to visit her family when she strikes up an odd, ephemeral friendship with the couple next to her on the plane. A mother prepares for her son's wedding, her own life unravelling as his comes together. A long-lost stepbrother's visit prompts a family's reckoning with its old taboos.In these eleven powerful stories, thrilling desire and melancholic yearning animate women’s lives – from the brink of adulthood, to the labyrinthine path between twenty and thirty, to middle age, when certain possibilities quietly lapse. Tender, lucid and piercingly funny, Objects of Desire is a collection pulsing with subtle drama, rich with unforgettable scenes, and alive with moments of recognition, each more startling than the last - a spellbinding debut that announces a major talent.'A debut story collection of the rarest kind . . . you wish that every single entry could be an entire novel.' — Entertainment WeeklyClare Sestanovich named one of The National Book Foundation's '5 under 35'.Trade ReviewSestanovich’s elegant prose takes seriously the quiet unrest that can ravage a life, and makes room for the pleasure and discovery that can be found in that ruin -- Raven Leilani, author of LusterSublimely polished . . . collectively probe the gap between how we’re seen and how we might long to appear. -- Hephzibah Anderson * Observer *Sestanovich's steady hand and bone-clean prose recall such foremothers as Joan Didion, Zadie Smith, and Jhumpa Lahiri -- Elinor Hitt * The Paris Review *Sestanovich is an extraordinary noticer. Carefully, sparely, she parses layers of feeling and attitude; of the tiny ways we admit or refuse love; of incremental, almost invisible, losses of self * Guardian *Bold and beguiling -- Chloe Aridjis, author of Book of CloudsThe summer's most buzzed about book * Sunday Times *As far as writing pedigrees go, it doesn’t get much more impressive than The New Yorker and The Paris Review . . . A smart, incisive look at the complexities of being a woman right now * Stylist *Smart and accomplished . . . Sestanovich’s prose is poised and understated, sensorily precise . . . her gift is to make ordinary moments shine brightly * The New York Times Book Review *Astonishing - one of the best story collections I’ve read in a long time . . . I feel like I've found a new favorite writer - Clare Sestanovich is stylish and skilled, an astute chronicler of contemporary life -- Brandon Taylor, Booker-shortlisted author of Real LifeNuanced, beautifully shaped . . . In Sestanovich’s hands, the mundane feels surprising—mesmerizing, even * Refinery29 *Clare Sestanovich’s stories compelled me like gravity, and offered sharp, surprising, singular bursts of grace -- Leslie Jamison, author of The Recovering and The Empathy ExamsExtraordinary * Esquire *Clare Sestanovich is a gifted observer and writes a sentence sharp enough to cut yourself on . . . A magnificent debut -- Nathan Englander, author of Dinner at the Center of the EarthA debut story collection of the rarest kind: One in which you wish that every single entry could be an entire novel. * Entertainment Weekly *Objects of Desire is a marvel . . . I loved this book -- Miranda Popkey, author of Topics of ConversationLuminous . . . Sestanovich writes with a kind of bracing cold-plunge clarity. Objects of Desire taps into the peculiar, primal struggle of becoming who you are, and all the stories you have to tell yourself to get there. -- Leah Greenblatt * Entertainment Weekly *A fun read [that] reminds us that we’re all human -- Kaia Gerber, quoted in The Wall Street JournalSestanovich is a skilled craftswoman, each sentence a carefully positioned tile in a mosaic * Vulture *A mesmerizing, exquisite debut -- Dana Spiotta, author of Innocents and Others[Sestanovich's] characters always seem poised at the brink of some great, terrifying, wondrous unraveling * Electric Literature *Sestanovich’s intelligent debut collection demonstrates a gift for pithy detail that encapsulates the whole of a character’s personality or era of lived experience * Publishers Weekly *Exquisitely observed, and sure to stay with you long after you’ve finished * Bustle *Wry and knowing and deeply funny -- Mira Sethi, author of Are You Enjoying?Sestanovich’s writing is clever and rich with layers, just like her characters. And the textures of her sentences are as nuanced as desire itself * Fiction Writers' Review *Sestanovich expertly places you in the mind of different women, young and old, rich and poor, single and in relationships. The stolen glimpses into the complex minds of her characters will leave you unable to resist writing the rest of their story in your head * Reaction *These stories are restrained, nearly aloof, despite the fact that the characters are constantly and messily butting up against the futility of their desires * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisIt is a winter evening, and Yegor Aduyev, the scion of a wealthy family from the landed gentry, slips into the house of Baron Neyleyn with the intention of asking his beautiful daughter, the eighteen-year-old Yelena, to be his wife. Will the besotted lover be successful in his pursuit or will the young coquette - who seems at times to reciprocate his feelings, but who lavished lingering looks on two dashing princes during a recent ball - shatter his hopes, his dreams and his entire world? A Serendipitous Error, written in 1839, when Goncharov was still in his twenties, is accompanied here by another early novella, An Evil Malady and a short fictional fragment. Taken together, these stories - translated for the first time into English - are further proof of the eclectic narrative skills of the celebrated author of Oblomov.

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Book SynopsisMachine learning, AI and large language models tell us that the future is with us now. This thrilling collection of science fiction stories gathers the fears and opportunities prompted by responsive chatbots to reveal the struggles of the Machine Age, affecting both humanity and artificial intelligence. With stories from open submissions and classic tales we examine the interplay between automation, humankind, and what it is to be human. The stories encourage us to think of human and machine development in the same terms. What is it like to emerge from childhood as an adult? What was it like to be at the mercy of elemental forces in ancient times? Are we truly in control of our climate now? Are machines the future, or a dangerous distraction? Are thinking machines inevitable? There's so much to explore in this fascinating new book. New, contemporary and notable writers featured are: Rachel Aukes, Stewart C. Baker, Hal Bodner, Kushal Chatterjee, Vivian Chou, Matthew Chrulew and Stelarc’s Prosthetic Head, P.A. Cornell, Yelena Crane, E.J. Delaney, Derek Des Anges, Louis Evans, Paige E. Ewing, Shannon Fay, Sydney Paige Guerrero, K. Lynn Harrison, Emily Inkpen, Akis Linardos, Mary Liu, K.G. McAbee, Corbett McKinney, Adam Mitchell, Jason Sabbagh, M.C. St. John, Antonia Rachel Ward, Nemma Wollenfang, and Ramez Yoakeim. These appear alongside classic work by Karel Čapek, E.T.A. Hoffman, Franz Kafka, Damon Knight, Mary Shelley, H.G. Wells, and more. The gorgeous editions of Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.

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Book SynopsisA trail-blazing writer of great repute in her day, but now unjustly neglected, Baroness Emmuska Orczy’s name was synonymous with the mystery genre in the early twentieth century, particularly for her Scarlet Pimpernel books, set during the French Revolution. But perhaps the most revolutionary of her works is the lesser-known Lady Molly of Scotland Yard, a short-story collection revolving around Molly Robertson-Kirk, a fictional London detective – indeed, published in 1910, Molly was one of the first fictional female detectives, and served as a prototype for many that followed. Beautifully presented and with helpful explanatory notes, this edition celebrates Orczy’s heroine and aims to reintroduce her for a new generation of readers.Trade Review'Anyone who feels that their outward manner is but a travesty of their inner self can hardly fail to respond to The Scarlet Pimpernel.' (Independent); 'Orczy had a rare gift: that of the storyteller. Her Pimpernel books are compulsively readable.' (Guardian)

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Book SynopsisE. T. A. Hoffmann’s classic tales of Gothic horror and fantasy are presented in a new translation accompanying the beguiling drawings of Natalie FrankTrade Review“Sumptuous. . . . Enough eldritch ferocity to supply hallucinatory macro-doses to you and every adult you know. . . . [Natalie Frank’s] artwork . . . is gruesome perfection, for Hoffmann’s tales intend to shake us out of our torpor, to make us see the fantastical forces at work all around us.”—Meghan Cox Gurdon, Wall Street Journal“This pioneering master of the uncanny is as relevant as ever. . . . Capture[s] the brilliance of E. T. A. Hoffmann, whose influence ranges from Freud to Poe to Blade Runner.”—Washington Post“Frank and Zipes have met the challenge of taking on Hoffman with fierce energy, investing these timeless tales with a new relevance and contemporary sensibility.”—Claire Gilman, The Drawing Center“Frank’s extraordinary artwork frames Zipes’s translations of Hoffmann’s stories on each page, offering readers an experience in which the visual images and verbal texts are in constant conversation, commenting on and enriching each other.”—Donald Haase, author of Folktales and Fairy Tales: Traditions and Texts from Around the World

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Book SynopsisIncluding the contents of the classic collections Uncanny Stories (1923) and The Intercessor and Other Stories (1931), this new volume also features two rare strange tales from a third, lesser-known book which explore further facets of Sinclair's fascination with the uncanny.

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Book SynopsisA dazzling collection of retold and original fairy tales from fifteen acclaimed and bestselling YA writers, including Tracy Deonn and Melissa Albert. A dazzling collection of fifteen original and retold fairy tales from acclaimed and bestselling writers Fairy tales have been spun for thousands of years and remain among our most treasured stories. Weaving fresh takes and unexpected reimaginings, At Midnight brings together a diverse group of celebrated writers to breathe new life into our beloved traditions. Dahlia Adler, “Rumplestiltskin” Tracy Deonn, “The Nightingale” H.E. Edgmon, “Snow White” Hafsah Faizal, “Little Red Riding Hood” Stacey Lee, “The Little Matchstick Girl” Roselle Lim, “Hansel and Gretel” Darcie Little Badger, “Puss in Boots” Malinda Lo, “Frau Trude” Alex London, “Cinderella” Anna-Marie McLemore, “The Nutcracker” Rebecca Podos, “The Robber Bridegroom” Rory Power, “Sleeping Beauty” Meredith Russo, “The Little Mermaid” Gita Trelease, “Fitcher’s Bird” and an all-new fairy tale by Melissa Albert

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Book SynopsisThe first short story collection from the Queen of Chillers. Prepare to be terrified... This Halloween prepare to be terrified with C. J. Tudor's first collection of short stories. A creak of the floorboard, a shiver down your spine, the feeling that you're not alone... These eleven twisted tales of the macabre from the bestselling author of The Chalk Man are your perfect companions as the nights draw in...if you're brave enough.Trade ReviewAll hail the queen of scream. A Sliver of Darkness is C.J. Tudor at her spine-tingling, nightmare-inducing best. Read it if you dare... * CHRIS WHITAKER *This unsettling collection of stories from a writer often called the 'British Stephen King' deftly inverts the banal and unremarkable to reveal their underlying horror * METRO *Beautifully barbaric, creepy as hell and crammed with barbed wit, Tudor can say more in one short story than many writers can manage in a full length novel * JOHN MARRS *Brilliantly creepy and perfectly executed * JAMES OSWALD *A decadent and phantasmagorical descent into the dark chasm where I first fell in love with horror fiction. Told with real heart along with daemonic savagery, these are stories to luxuriate with in the tenebrous * MATT WESOLOWSKI *Chilling * Choice Magazine *PRAISE FOR C.J. TUDOR * -- *If you like my stuff, you'll like this * Stephen King *A dark star is born * A. J. Finn *Some writers have it, and some don't. C. J. Tudor has it big time * Lee Child *

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Book SynopsisThis annual anthology of rare stories of crime and suspense brings together tales from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction for the first time in book form, including a short novel by Christianna Brand.Mystery stories have been around for centuriesthere are whodunits, whydunits and howdunits, including locked-room puzzles, detective stories without detectives, and crimes with a limited choice of suspects.Countless volumes of such stories have been published, but some are still impossible to find: stories that appeared in a newspaper, magazine or an anthology that has long been out of print; ephemeral works such as plays not aired, staged or screened for decades; and unpublished stories that were absorbed into an author's archive when they died . . .Here for the first time are three never-before-published mysteries by Edmund Crispin, Ngaio Marsh and Leo Bruce, and two pieces written for radio by Gladys Mitchell and H. C. Baileythe latter featuring Reggie Fortune.Together with a newly unearthed short story by Ethel Lina White that inspired Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes, and a complete short novel by Christianna Brand, this diverse mix of tales by some of the world's most popular classic crime writers contains something for everyone.Complete with indispensable biographies by Tony Medawar of all the featured authors, the fourth volume in the series Bodies from the Library once again brings into the daylight the forgotten, the lost and the unknown.Trade Review‘In this trip down memory lane, familiar names from the golden age, such as Ngaio Marsh, Gladys Mitchell and Edmund Crispin, share the honours with lesser lights claiming their overdue recognition as gifted contributors to classic crime. The centrepiece is a novella by Christianna Brand who, after years of neglect, is now enjoying a revival. Other snappier tales of criminal intent, gathered for the first time in book form, testify to Tony Medawar’s skill as an excavator of lost treasures of crime fiction. This, the fourth in the series of Bodies From The Library, is the best yet.’—Daily Mail 'An annual treat – almost like the summer version of a Christie for Christmas.'—Kate Jackson, author of The Pocket Detective and Cross Examining Crime ‘One of the best mixed anthologies I’ve come across … If you’re already a vintage crime fan, then this is one to grab; and if you’re new to the genre, then you’ll find this a very enjoyable way to introduce yourself to some of the greats. Highly recommended!’—FictionFanBlog

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Book SynopsisThe extraordinary new story collection from one of Ireland's greatest writers and bestselling author of Mindwinter Break. Bernard MacLaverty is a consummately gifted short-story writer and novelist whose work - like that of John McGahern, William Trevor, Edna O'Brien or Colm Tóibín - is deceptively simple on the surface, but carries a turbulent undertow. Everywhere, the dark currents of violence, persecution and regret pull at his subject matter: family love, the making of art, Catholicism, the Troubles and, latterly, ageing. Blank Pages is a collection of twelve extraordinary new stories that show the emotional range of a master. 'Blackthorns', for instance, tells of a poor out-of-work Catholic man who falls gravely ill in the sectarian Northern Ireland of 1942 but is brought back from the brink by an unlikely saviour. The most recently written story here is the harrowing but transcendent 'The End of Days', which imagines the last moments in the life of painter Egon Schiele, watching his wife dying of Spanish flu - the world's worst pandemic, until now. Much of what MacLaverty writes is an amalgam of sadness and joy, of circumlocution and directness. He never wastes words but neither does he ever forget to make them sing. Each story he writes creates a universe.Trade ReviewMacLaverty locates the precise point where life bleeds into art, and art into life...like the best writers through the ages, he is confident and questioning, engaged and wise. -- Hilary MantelThis fine collection reaffirms MacLaverty's place among the greatest short story writers of his generation. * Observer *I can't think of another living writer whose attention to the small acts and seemingly inconsequential details of our lives unlocks so much emotional truth. -- Carys DaviesEach new collection is its own rare gift - and one to be savoured. * Sunday Times *A stunning achievement. Bernard MacLaverty is undoubtedly one of the finest and most gifted writers at work today, and in terms of the short story he has no better -- Billy O'Callaghan

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Book SynopsisDark tales inspired by J. M. Barrie's classic stories of Neverland, Captain Hook, Tinkerbell, and of course Peter Pan, from some the masters of science-fiction, horror and fantasy including A. C. Wise, Claire North, Lavie Tidhar and more. The award-winning Marie O’Regan & Paul Kane bring together the masters of fantasy, science-fiction and horror, to spin stories inspired by J. M. Barrie’s classic tale. A murder investigation leads a detective to a strange place called Neverland; pupils attend a school for Peters; a young boy loses his shadow and goes to desperate lengths to retrieve it. These stories take the original tales of Peter & Wendy, the Lost Boys and Tinkerbell, twisting and turning them. From dystopias to the gritty streets of London, these stories will keep you reading all night and straight on ‘til morning. Featuring stories from: Lavie Tidhar Claire North Premee Mohamed Kirsty Logan Edward Cox Anna Smith Spark Alison Littlewood A. C. Wise Rio Youers Gama Ray Martinez Juliet Marillier Robert Shearman A. K. Benedict Laura Mauro Cavan Scott Guy Adams Paul Finch Muriel GrayTrade ReviewMarie O’Regan and Paul Kane have mustered an enviable crew of lost boys and girls to explore the shadowy side of Neverland, creating a new set of fables for a lost generation. Like a fistful of fairy dust, these stories transform Peter Pan into something thrillingly contemporary – take the second star to the right and read on ’til morning. - British Fantasy Award winner Dan Coxon"O’Regan and Kane have pulled the anthology together as only editors with consummate skill and experience can, and in terms of style and delivery, there really is something for everyone. It will be good to see The Other Side of Never take flight in the real world. There is certainly enough here to get anyone ‘hooked’."—The British Fantasy Society"Prepare for family secrets, crime scenes and many other tales to ponder what never growing up and Never Land really mean. I loved the collection’s ability to play with the concept and the tales all manage to run the emotions from happy to grief to fear with ease."—Runalong the Shelves"A deftly-crafted, and hugely enjoyable anthology. Probably not suitable for kids, but perfect for those adults who “never grew up”."—California ReadingPRAISE FOR CURSED: AN ANTHOLOGY, FROM THE EDITORSA magical, mythical, mystical collection that should appeal to fans of dark fables and traditional folk horror. - Den of GeekThis anthology should satisfy most fantasy readers and is well worth a look. - BooklistThese stories are by turns eerie, grotesque, and delightful... Readers won’t have to be Brothers Grimm fans to appreciate this dark mélange. - Publishers Weekly ReviewThe editors have assembled a fantastic collection here, one that offers an array of talent and is packed with stories that are all worthy of a return visit... Certainly lives up to and surpasses expectations. - Starburst Magazine RevewPuts new spins on old favorite stories and tropes, as well as offers a few completely new takes on the concept. - Book RiotSkin-crawling, tooth-grinding scary and sensuous... an excellent collection whose unforgettable, spooky images invoke the magic of daily life. - Foreword Magazine ReviewA strongly put together compilation, with very solid qualities... Really does achieve exactly what it set out to do. - The Bookbag ReviewEvery story selected for inclusion here is of incredibly high quality, delicious and moreish, provoking in the reader a compulsion to keep turning the pages until the book is complete. A compulsion strong enough to be a curse Perhaps. You’ll need to buy a copy and find out for yourself. - A Set the Tape ReviewEnchanting, spellbinding, gruesome and funny but seldom dull we give Cursed a 666/666. - Horror Hot HouseA masterpiece in its editorial storytelling. - Her CampusI enjoyed the twists and darkness in the stories and I will happily reread a few of them in the future. - A Novel Purpose ReviewA really interesting mix of fairy tale, horror, and urban fantasy... A really well put together collection! - A Cat, A Book, and a Cup of TeaA wonderful collection of stories. - Lucy’s Novel PurposeA solid collection... The overall vibe of this book is really dark & creepy, and in addition to the stories by authors I love, it was a great introduction to some new-to-me authors! - Grimdark Dad ReviewThe book is packed with great tales, and some amazing authors. Whatever style that you enjoy, or writers that you like, is sure to be met here. The book has something for everyone, and continues the tradition of Titan producing some of the best anthology books around. - Trans-scribe ReviewNo matter what your reading preference there will be something here for you... Each author really did fulfil the brief though and I very much enjoyed how diverse the ideas were, be it taken from existing mythology or through an entirely fresh approach. - Paperbacks & Pinot ReviewI really enjoyed this story collection... This anthology is defiantly for fans of fairy tales. It reaches out like a voice in the woods tempting your childhood self to step off the path and roam in the darkness for a little while. - Istoria Lit ReviewI enjoyed reading this book so much! It was so interesting... I would definitely recommend this book. It was such a quick read with you able to read a tale here and there. - Pythia Reads ReviewBeautiful, twisted, and refreshing takes on classic stories (with a few brand new fairytales thrown in the mix, too). - Howling Libraries blog tour reviewA great collection. - SciFi Movie Page reviewLike watching a amazing story teller tell a story...so much to love about this anthology. - The Misadventures of a Reader blog tour reviewA great collection of work from some great authors... has something for everyone. - Where There’s Ink There’s Paper ReviewWhat impressed me was the depth and range of stories... There’s something to delight every fantasy / fairytale / horror fan. - The Book Lover’s Boudoir ReviewDefinitely worth checking out if you enjoy the darker side of fairy tales and the curses within. - Fantastic Books & Where to Find Them ReviewAn incredible collection. A must have for any fantasy fan. - An Average Life ReviewThis book is packed with great tales, and some amazing authors. Whatever style that you enjoy, or writers that you like, you will find something to read in this book. - Reader’s Enjoy Author’s Dreams ReviewI really enjoyed reading Cursed it was perfect as I like fantasy with a dark twist... I would definitely recommend Cursed and I am sure there is something in their for everyone. - Odd Socks and Lollipops ReviewPerfect for the current state of the world. You’ll get sucked into these wonderful stories and want so much more! - mall3tg1rl blog tour reviewCURSED is a masterfully edited book from a list of highly talented authors that delivers on its promise of evil curses, dark fairy tale retellings, and twists that are sure to give you goosebumps. - The Writerly Way blog tour reviewThe cadence of the book is spot on... O’Regan and Kane have a fantastic knack for knowing how to put stories in the right order. - Novel Lives blog tour review[These] stories read quickly, but pack a real punch, landing in that sweet spot of short fiction that is often strived for but can be hard to land. - Looking Glass Reads blog tour reviewA worthy addition to the twisted fairy tales genre. - The Frumious Consortium blog tour reviewA fine collection of tales by some of the best names in fantasy... A high level of quality and some really interesting spins on the theme. - Runalong the Shelves ReviewI wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to fans of dark fairytales. - The Paperback Piano Review

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Book SynopsisFinalist for the 2021 PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction“A House Is a Body will not simply be talked about as one of the greatest short story collections of the 2020s; it will change the way all stories—short and long—are told, written, and consumed. There is nothing, no emotion, no tiny morsel of memory, no touch, that this book does not take seriously. Yet, A House Is a Body might be the most fun I’ve ever had in a short story collection.” —Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy Dreams collide with reality, modernity with antiquity, and myth with identity in the twelve arresting stories of A House Is a Body. Set in the United States and India, Swamy’s characters grapple with motherhood, relationships, and their bodies to reveal small but intense internal moments of beauty, pain, and power that contain the world. In “Earthly Pleasures,” a young painter living alone in San Francisco begins a secret romance with one of India’s biggest celebrities, and desire and ego are laid bare. In “A Simple Composition,” a husband’s professional crisis leads to his wife’s discovery of a dark, ecstatic joy. And in the title story, an exhausted mother watches, hypnotized by fear, as a California wildfire approaches her home. Immersive and assured, provocative and probing, these are stories written with the edge and precision of a knife blade.A House Is a Body introduces a bold and original voice in fiction, from a writer at the start of a stellar career. Don't miss Shruti Swamy's debut novel, The Archer (available September 7, 2021), which has already been longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize.Trade ReviewAn Electric Lit Favorite Short Story Collection of 2020“A House Is A Body might be the most fun I've ever had in a short story collection.” —Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy “Stunning.” —Ms. “Swamy’s debut short story collection is rich, mesmeric . . . These are nuanced and quietly powerful stories about our most urgent and deeply felt experiences—grief, love, and desire.” —BuzzFeed (29 Summer Books You Won't Be Able to Put Down) “Equal parts elegance and sorrow, absurdity and sensuality. This book is magic.” —C Pam Zhang, author of How Much of These Hills Is Gold “Swamy connects the narratives through her clean prose, punctuating moments both surreal and eerily realistic.” —Time ("Here Are the 12 New Books You Should Read in August") “In this story collection that hops back and forth between India and the U.S., Shruti Swamy delivers a meticulous investigation of the pleasures, pains, and confusions that bodies afford—especially when those bodies belong to people of color. In the hypnotic, almost Lynchian title story (which previously appeared in The Paris Review), a Californian woman watches as a wildfire steadily advances on her home. These are closely observed stories that often turn into provocative studies about the absurdity of our entanglement with others.” —The Millions “Two-time O. Henry Award winner Shruti Swamy shows impressive range within the deceptively narrow confines (200 pages) of her debut short story collection, A House Is A Body . . . Swamy’s words readily dazzle, and the collection’s themes, including a haunting exploration of sibling rivalry, reveal themselves gradually.” —The AV Club ("5 New Books to Read in August") “The 12 stories that make up Shruti Swamy's A House Is a Body are mesmerizing in their richness . . . Swamy captures the full breadth of the human experience.” —PopSugar ("26 Incredible New Books Coming Your Way This August") “[Swamy] writes with sureness and grace. Her writing is more poetry than prose . . . The stories are rewarding for the elegance and lilt of the writing. Swamy takes you on an easy, well-articulated rides set in India, Germany, and the United States . . . If you love words, the way they can be used to describe objects and actions, the ways they can be assembled for effect, buy A House Is a Body. You will be rewarded.” —New York Journal of Books “The winner of two O. Henry Prizes, Shruti Swamy will publish her first short-story collection this summer, and you won't want to miss out on reading it. The 12 stories in A House Is a Body move between India and the U.S., focusing on women's interior lives and the ways in which their identities differ from the perceptions and presumptions of those around them.”—Bustle "Swamy’s pulsating prose produces riveting narratives. Her stories twist in subtle yet unexpected ways . . . The fallible characters in Swamy’s ravishing book are always falling into something and bravely grasping what they can on their way down in a frenetic attempt to pull themselves back up. A dazzling and exquisitely crafted collection." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review“Spanning the geographical and social distance between India and the U.S., Swamy’s 12 tales illuminate her characters’ imperfections and struggles, ultimately forming an attuned and mystical exploration into the enigmas of being human.”—Booklist"Swamy writes with a cool precision that draws the reader into her debut collection . . the plots unspool in lovely lucid prose that has a poetic omniscience . . . Swamy is off to a strong start." —Publishers Weekly “This is one of the books I'll turn to again and again, to study the tapestry of the prose, which is so beautiful and original. And there is such a deep curiosity at work here. I couldn't stop reading once I'd begun, couldn't part with this clear, exquisite, intelligent mind, contemplating an endlessly troubled and intimate world. It made me love reading all over again.” —Rebecca Lee, author of Bobcat and Other Stories “I’ve been reading Shruti Swamy’s stories for a long time and so for me to have them here together is cause for great celebration. These stories are written with such rare patience and a restraint that they are at times, almost unbearably tense. That’s a story writer. Not a book to read in a hurry. Take your time, as Swamy did. No need for hyperbole, either. The beauty and timeless grace of these stories will always speak for themselves.” —Peter Orner, author of Maggie Brown Others: Stories "Shruti Swamy writes with a confidence and rich understanding that recalls such renowned storytellers as Katherine Anne Porter and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Her collection A House is a Body is the perfect book for lovers of the short story and for all those willing to lose themselves in Swamy’s thoroughly developed fictional worlds. Shruti Swamy is a rare talent and A House is a Body is a gorgeous debut." —Laura Furman, author of The Mother Who Stayed and former series editor of The O'Henry Prize Stories "Powered by intense imagery and jolts of frank sexuality, Shruti Swamy’s A House Is a Body blurs the line between fantastical and naturalistic storytelling with its tales of love, loss, and life lived across cultures . . . mesmerizing."—Foreword Reviews, starred review

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Book SynopsisL. Frank Baum’s work is universally celebrated and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is known worldwide, in particular for its 1939 musical film adaptation starring Judy Garland as Dorothy. Published in 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz depicted the young farm girl Dorothy and her pet dog Toto, who are swept away to the Land of Oz in a cyclone. Baum was inspired by the works of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, focusing on manipulating the fairy tale tradition with an American feel in the Oz series. This edition collects together the best of L. Frank Baum’s Oz works, taking material from the very first 1900 publication of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and subsequent novels including Ozma of Oz, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz and The Lost Princess of Oz.

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Book SynopsisIn fierce, textured voices, the women of Ovid's Metamorphoses claim their stories and challenge the power of myth.

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Book SynopsisA collection of short stories from one of our most popular novelists the perfect gift.A rich and wonderful selection of short stories. A TV chef who specialises in outrageous cakes tempts a monk who bakes bread for his brothers; a surprise visitor invites mayhem into the perfect minimalist flat in the season of good will; a woman explains her unique view of straying husbands; straying husbands encounter a variety of effective responses. Just some of the delicacies on offer in this sumptuous box of delightsTrade Review‘To those that have feasted on Joanne Harris’s delightful novel Chocolat, the title of this collection of short stories should give ample hint as to their themes…All of these modern morality tales are well observed and tastily enjoyable’ The Times ‘This stunning collection of short stories (is) about modern relationships – and modern women. Every twist and turn, nuance and delicacy of the mating game is portrayed…Throughout, Gregory’s grasp of the female psyche never errs…It is a significant accomplishment’ Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisA brilliant and rather transgressive collection of short stories from the double Man Booker Prize-winning author of Wolf Hall, Bring Up the Bodies and The Mirror & the Light.Including a new story The School of English'.Hilary Mantel is one of Britain's most accomplished and acclaimed writers. In these ten bracingly subversive tales, all her gifts of characterisation and observation are fully engaged, summoning forth the horrors so often concealed behind everyday façades. Childhood cruelty is played out behind the bushes in Comma'; nurses clash in Harley Street' over something more than professional differences; and in the title story, staying in for the plumber turns into an ambiguous and potentially deadly waiting game.Whether set in a claustrophobic Saudi Arabian flat or on a precarious mountain road in Greece, these stories share an insight into the darkest recesses of the spirit. Displaying all of Mantel's unmistakable style and wit, they reveal a great writer at the peak of her Trade Review‘An exhilarating, if dark, collection … ‘The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher’ is a small triumph: a lesson in artfully controlled savagery’ Sunday Times ‘Remarkably good: taut, engaging and shocking … acutely observed’ Evening Standard ‘I would recommend the brilliantly chilling …The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher over most other long or short works this year.’ Telegraph, Books of the Year ‘What a fabulously nasty concoction Hilary Mantel has served up … It’s a fugu fish of a book; parts of which will leave you dizzily elated, while other parts may make you very ill indeed … The venom is distilled, bottled and dripped like slowly staining bitters into the cocktail of the entertainment … That title story, wickedly good, is alone worth the price of admission to the book’ Simon Schama, Financial Times ‘The best stories in the collection … combine sharp observation and sly wit with a subtle burrowing into the recesses of her protagonists’ heads. The darker stories recall both the metaphysical speculations of Jorge Luis Borges and the trickery of Roald Dahl’ Mail on Sunday ‘Infused with Mantel’s almost lush evocations of isolation and distress … All in all, these are alluring portraits of interior disquiet’ Observer ‘No one else quite sounds like Mantel in this vein, although a top-level summit of Muriel Spark and Alan Bennett might conceivably come close. Mantel takes absolutely nothing on trust. Bodies can, and will, malfunction; ditto minds, and marriages. Malice, power or simple chance may always undermine the ground beneath your feet’ Independent ‘These are the sticky slices of suburban noir that Mantel served up so well in her pre-Wolf Hall output and they never fail to deliver’ The Times ‘Much of Mantel’s glorious power comes from her unsentimental, forensic gaze and willingness to describe the uncomfortable … Mantel’s brutally dissecting eye is much in evidence here … Her prose is sublime … the glittering details exquisite’ Independent on Sunday

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Book SynopsisHere are the moments that our fairy tales forgot or deliberately concealed, reimagined by one of the most gifted storytellers of his generation, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Hours, and exquisitely illustrated by Yuko Shimizu. Rarely have our bedtime stories been this dark, this perverse, or this true.The Beast stands ahead of you in line at the convenience store, buying smokes and a Slim Jim, his devouring smile aimed at the cashier. A malformed little man with a knack for minor acts of wizardry goes to disastrous lengths to procure a child. A loutish and lazy Jack prefers living in his mother''s basement to getting a job, until the day he trades a cow for a handful of magic beans.In A Wild Swan and Other Tales, the people and the talismans of lands far, far away the mythic figures of our childhoods and the source of so much of our wonder are transformed by Michael Cunningham into stories of sublime revelation.Trade Review‘While there was darkness in the original tales – blood, butchery and much else – Cunningham’s collection brings emotional light and shade where there was none … The comedy in these stories works brilliantly, but it does not uncut the tragedy of its lonely and quietly tormented outsiders … This collection reminds us of the uncanny ability of the fairy tale to allow its story and characters to bend and stretch to the time in which it is being reconceived, to be both archaic and topical … Short, contemporary, disturbing, and alluring,: a transporting and enthralling read’ FIVE STARS, Independent ‘With a light touch and bags of sardonic elegance, Cunningham impishly expands on these timeless narratives’ Hephzibah Anderson, Observer Praise for THE SNOW QUEEN: 'Clean and sharp as an ice crystal; a brief but profound and poetic meditation on love, death and compassion from a master craftsman of language' Observer ‘Michael Cunningham’s resonant new novel . . . is arguably [his] most original and emotionally piercing book to date’ New York Times ‘The pursuit of transcendence in all kinds of forms — music, drugs, a McQueen minidress, and those things less tangible but no less powerfully felt — drives Michael Cunningham's best novel in more than a decade’ Vogue Praise for THE HOURS: ‘“The Hours” is a book which heightens the perception of the reader. Cunningham’s craftsmanship is overwhelming.’ Robert Farren, Independent on Sunday ‘An extremely moving, original and memorable novel.’ Hermione Lee, TLS ‘Engrossing, imaginative and humane.’ Richard Francis, Observer

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Book SynopsisA collection of rare ghosts and horror stories by the brothers of one of the finest writers of the genre, E. F. Benson.The Benson brothers Arthur Christopher, Edward Frederic and Robert Hugh were one of the most extraordinary and prolific literary families, between them writing more than 150 books. Arthur alone left four million words of diary, although his most lasting legacy is the words to Elgar's Land of Hope and Glory, while Fred is acknowledged as one of the finest writers of Edwardian supernatural fiction: the name E. F. Benson is mentioned in the same breath as other greats such as M. R. James and H. R. Wakefield.In fact, all three brothers wrote ghost stories, although the work of Arthur and Hugh in this field has long been overshadowed by their brother's success. Now the best supernatural tales of A. C. and R. H. Benson have been gathered into one volume by anthologist Hugh Lamb, whose introduction examines the lives and writings of these two complex and fascinating men. OrTrade Review‘If you have read the ghost stories of M.R. James, you will already be familiar with the basic formula used to construct these stories … the language of these shows the influence of the fantasies of William Morris and George Macdonald.’ Amazon reviews

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Book SynopsisThe first ever story collection from the inimitable Lionel ShriverGenius' StylistPhenomenal' ObserverBrilliant' The TimesIn her first ever story collection, Lionel Shriver illuminates one of the modern age's most enduring obsessions: property.A woman creates a deeply personal wedding present for her best friend; a thirty-something son refuses to leave home; a middle-aged man subjugated by service to his elderly father discovers that the last place you should finally assert yourself is airport security.This landmark publication explores the idea of property in both senses of the word: real estate, and stuff. Immensely readable, it showcases the biting insight that has made Lionel Shriver one of the most acclaimed authors of our time.Trade Review‘Shriver’s intellect and talent, her political convictions and her impressive confidence are all on display … assertive, frequently funny and altogether satisfying … her confident grasp of the material and her natural gifts as a storyteller will keep you in her spell and leave you, at the end, slightly altered … persuasive and richly entertaining’ NEW YORK TIMES ‘Phenomenal… Shriver has the gift for making one instantly curious, entertained, involved and ready to move in – no matter what the property’ OBSERVER ‘Genius’ STYLIST ‘At her best, she takers the familiar and mundane and turns it into something surprising and strange’ SUNDAY EXPRESS S MAGAZINE ‘All Shriver’s stories are satisfying. I exhaled a little triumphant “Ha!” at the end of each one … Shriver is brilliant’ THE TIMES ‘Shriver remains a formidably sharp writer, one of the best we have’ EVENING STANDARD ‘Shriver is at her best here, an acerbic comedian, Dickensian in style, whose vibrant characters are best seen in dramatic action and dialogue’ FINANCIAL TIMES ‘Whip-smart … Crisp, conversational and convincingly true to life, Shriver’s stories are a treat’ DAILY MAIL ‘A pugnacious, brilliantly articulate, hilarious collection’ i NEWS ‘Shriver is the master of the neat twist’ DAILY EXPRESS

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Book SynopsisAround the world in 22 murdersLONGLISTED FOR THE 2023 CWA SHORT STORY DAGGER AWARD22 hugely engaging and eloquent crime stories from around the world the plots sizzle and evoke a variety of emotions. The Perfect Crime comes with a massive thumbs up from me and marches straight in to sit as a LoveReading Star Book.' LoveReadingMURDERBLACKMAILREVENGEFrom Lagos to Mexico City, Australia to the Caribbean, Toronto to Los Angeles, Darjeeling to rural New Zealand, London to New York twenty-two bestselling crime writers from diverse cultures come together from across the world in a razor sharp and deliciously sinister collection of crime stories.Featuring Oyinkan Braithwaite, Abir Mukherjee, S.A. Cosby, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, J.P. Pomare, Sheena Kamal, Vaseem Khan, Sulari Gentill, Nelson George, Rachel Howzell Hall, John Vercher, Sanjida Kay, Amer Anwar, Henry Chang, Nadine Matheson, Mike Phillips, Ausma Zehanat Khan, Felicia Yap, Thomas King, Imran Mahmood, David Heska Wanbli Weiden and WaltTrade Review‘A truly fabulous and satisfying read’ Lovereading ‘[A] collection of cunning, suspenseful and dark crime stories.’ CBC Radio ‘An absolute delight! The Perfect Crime is the most original, and captivating, short fiction anthology to come along in ages. The diversity of voice, of setting, of sensibility, of approach to storytelling is wondrous! I don't usually say this about compilations, but this book is a one-sitting read.’JEFFERY DEAVER, bestseller author of The Midnight Lock ‘Huge talent, wide horizons, endless fascination – this is the best collection I have seen for ages … maybe ever’LEE CHILD, bestselling author of Better off Dead 'A positive cornucopia of criminal delights'Mike Ripley, ShotsMag ‘This is a wonderful collection of short stories from some of the best crime writers working today.’ STEVE CAVANAGH, no. 1 bestselling author of Thirteen 'A stunning collection of highly original short stories.' M.W. CRAVEN, bestselling author of Dead Ground ‘The Perfect Crime is a nicely curated and wide-ranging collection which brings together a perfect blend of established stars such as Walter Mosley and Mike Phillips and exciting new voices’MARTIN EDWARDS ‘A collection of crime writers from diverse cultural backgrounds, united by the quality of their compelling stories. A hugely welcome and long-overdue anthology.’MARK BILLINGHAM, no. 1 Sunday Times Bestseller ‘The fact that The Perfect Crime is edited by two luminaries of the crime scene (one a newish star and one a respected veteran) has made for an irresistible collection of short fiction. Vaseem Khan and Maxim Jakubowski have assembled 22 bestselling crime writers from diverse cultures around the world, taking readers to every point of the compass in exploring the criminous side of human nature. Sheer pleasure.’ Financial Times

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Book SynopsisOne of the most exciting writers working in Ireland today' SALLY ROONEY, author of Normal PeopleTerrific' RODDY DOYLE, author of LoveTruly brilliant' MEGAN NOLAN, author of Acts of DesperationOn an island off Ireland's west coast strange things are afoot: two teenage boys set fires while their worlds fall apart, a couple drive out to the hills in a last-ditch effort to save their marriage, a widow seeks a stranger's help to bury her grief and a horse crashes a house party. Adrift in the treacherous waters of small-town boredom, the residents reach out with love and cruelty, desperation and hope, in their pursuit of connection.Pure Gold is a bitterly funny, surprising and profoundly moving short story collection that crackles with the thrilling energy of a bold new literary voice, John Patrick McHugh.Full of stylish brio' Colin Barrett, author of Young SkinsHilarious, shocking, and disturbingly well-observed' Vanity FairSearing John Patrick McHugh joins an illustrious generation of talTrade Review‘This astonishing collection of stories draws the reader into a world at once familiar and deliciously strange … John Patrick McHugh is one of the most exciting writers working in Ireland today’ Sally Rooney, author of Normal People ‘A remarkable, rare and truly brilliant collection’ Megan Nolan, author of Acts of Desperation ‘Ireland produces writers the way some countries produce footballers, and the latest is John Patrick McHugh’ Sunday Times ‘This is a terrific collection. The stories are dark, funny, honest and engrossing’ Roddy Doyle, author of Love ‘Refreshing and ambitious … stories full of heart and balls and mischief’ Lisa McInerney, author of The Blood Miracles ‘McHugh’s stories are full of stylish brio, headlong with energy, and pulse with real feeling and depth. He is a young writer forging a fresh and intense new path through the landscape of Irish letters’ Colin Barrett, author of Young Skins ‘McHugh writes very tenderly about people, and very vibrantly about place. Pure Gold describes the dull lives of a splendid island, in prose that is always splendid and never dull’ Sara Baume, author of A Line Made By Walking ‘Sharp, savage, feral stories. Pure Gold is utterly engrossing and unafraid. From the broken world of masculinity and prejudice, John Patrick McHugh has wrought a precious, beautiful alchemy’ Sean Hewitt, author of Tongues of Fire ‘Emotionally intelligent and savagely funny … Pure Gold is a striking literary debut’ Nicole Flattery, author of Show Them A Good Time ‘John Patrick McHugh is a wildly ambitious craftsman, and such a thrilling writer of sentences’ Danny Denton, author of The Earlie King & the Kid in Yellow

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Book SynopsisBodies from the Library brings into the daylight the forgotten, the lost and the unknown, and the 2023 volume is another indispensable collection for any bookshelf.The sixth volume of Bodies from the Library includes the usual eclectic mix of pre- and post-war stories by classic crime and thriller writers. Unearthed from ephemeral publications, newspapers and magazines, some of these lost' stories are by authors who have appeared in previous volumes, with others who are new to the series:We welcome back to the Library familiar Golden Age detective writers in the form of stories by Christianna Brand, Alice Campbell, Joseph Commings and Cyril Hare, a previously unknown novella by Anthony Gilbert, a short novel by Margery Allingham, and a hitherto unpublished Detection Club radio play by John Rhode.We also welcome for the first time George Bellairs, Victor Whitechurch and Andrew Garve, with E. C. Bentley's Greedy Night' providing a humorous parody of Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey, before five thriller writers including Geoffrey Household and Dennis Wheatley round off the collection with an unusual and exciting round-robin novella.And, whether this is your first encounter with Bodies or a return to the Library, we welcome you, the reader. Complete with revealing biographies of all 16 featured authors by Tony Medawar, we hope you will find this to be an indispensable collection for your bookshelf.Trade Review‘The tales are chosen with care, and the series has become essential to anyone interested in Golden Age crime.’ Christopher Fowler ‘An annual treat – almost like the summer version of a Christie for Christmas.’—Kate Jackson, author of The Pocket Detective and Cross Examining Crime ‘One of the best mixed anthologies I’ve come across … If you’re already a vintage crime fan, then this is one to grab; and if you’re new to the genre, then you’ll find this a very enjoyable way to introduce yourself to some of the greats. Highly recommended!’—FictionFanBlog ‘A veritable treasure trove of classic short stories’—Daily Mail ‘Tony Medawar triumphs again with this treasure trove of lost Golden Age gems.’—John Curran, author of The Hooded Gunman ‘In bringing to public awareness some of the forgotten, neglected, or simply unknown stories that the great and the good of the form produced, these collections have become a source of great excitement, and a must-read for even the most ardent student of the Golden Age.’—The Invisible Event

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Book SynopsisThe complete collection of published short stories of Edmund Crispin, together in one volume for the first time.Trade Review‘A terrific book. If you haven't read Crispin before, and in particular if you're a fan of short stories, you're in for a treat.’ MARTIN EDWARDS ‘The ideal bedside book: read for ten minutes, go to sleep with a smile and a shiver—thanks to the immense wit and effortless storytelling knack of Edmund Crispin.’ Kirkus Reviews ‘The neatest dirty tricks since Poirot packed it in … The least of these fables are expert; the best gleam with an effortless wit and cheeriness.’ Philadelphia Inquirer ‘His books are full of high spirits and excellent jokes, with constant literary allusions and an atmosphere of bibulous good humour. But at times the mood turns darker, and Crispin is capable of passages of both genuine suspense and ingenious deduction.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Crispin is noted for an ability to embellish clever story lines with Marx Brothers touches.’ New York Times ‘Rightly elevated to classic status.’ New York Sun

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Book Synopsis“Fiercely intelligent, warm in their own way, and absolutely absorbing. . . . Excellent excellent excellent.”—Roxane Gay“Ladee Hubbard is a true original, and this book is a unique beauty.”—Mary GaitskillThe critically acclaimed author of The Rib King returns with an eagerly anticipated collection of interlocking short stories including the title story written exclusively for this volume, that explore relationships between friends, family and strangers in a Black neighborhood over fifteen years.The thirteen gripping tales In The Last Suspicious Holdout, the new story collection by award-winning author Ladee Hubbard, deftly chronicle poignant moments in the lives of an African American community located in a “sliver of southern suburbia.” Spanning from 1992 to 2007, the stories represent a period during whichTrade Review"Keenly observed, both in exterior details and interior psychological realities, Ladee Hubbard’s short stories capture the absurd, charming, brave, beautiful, and grotesque acts that are the pivot points of specific Black lives. With prose bone spare and elegant, she reveals the swagger required to keep seeing and to be seen." — Alice Randall, author of Black Bottom Saints "I loved these interconnected stories. They are fiercely intelligent, warm in their own way, and absolutely absorbing. Hubbard has a deft sense of character and community and I really enjoyed piecing together the connections between the collection’s characters. Excellent excellent excellent." — Roxane Gay “For sheer reading pleasure Ladee Hubbard’s original and wildly inventive novel is in a class by itself.” — Toni Morrison on The Talented Ribkins

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Book SynopsisA.S. Byatt (1936-2023) was a novelist, short-story writer and critic of international renown. Her novels include Possession (winner of the Booker Prize 1990), the Frederica Quartet and The Children's Book, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction. She was appointed CBE in 1990 and DBE in 1999, and was awarded the Erasmus Prize 2016 for her inspiring contribution to life writing' and the Pak Kyongni Prize 2017. In 2018 she received the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award.Trade Review"Her plot is as compelling as that of a classical detective story, but it is the quality of the writing - its use and unity of metaphor, its sensuous language, its wit and intellectual playfulness - which renders it remarkable" -- Amanda Craig Literary Review "A. S. Byatt is one of our finest living novelists, who manages to tease and to satisfy both the intellect and the imagination ... I am already a convinced admirer of the works of A. S. Byatt. ANGELS & INSECTS should win over many more enthusiasts" -- Caroline Moore Daily Telegraph "Victorian and fun ... marvellous and maddening ... a display and a delight" -- Nicci Gerrard Observer "Her best work to date" Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisTo enter the world of Ben Okri''s stories is to surrender to a new reality. Set in the chaotic streets of Lagos and the jungle heart of Nigeria, all the laws of cause and effect, fact and fiction, are suspended. It is a world where the lives of the powerless veer terrifyingly close to nightmare. In rich, lyrical, almost hallucinatory prose Ben Okri guides us through the fabulous and the mundane, the serene and the randomly violent. The unrelenting Nigerian heat and the implacable darkness of the black-out and the military curfew are the backdrops for his characters each finding their own ways to survive. We witness their dogged resistance to impotence, their unquenchable humour and their insistence on the possibility of love in the face of terror. Written with the lucid clarity and logic of dream, Stars of the New Curfew is a book of visionary imagination.Trade ReviewAnother piercing collection of short stories... Masterful * Time Out *There are many novelists who write as well as Ben Okri, many who share his gift for recreating the texture of everyday life, many who can cut through the surface to expose, as he does, the myths of our elders and betters use to keep us in our place. There are very few novelists who can do all three. The fact that Ben Okri has done so in short stories, without ever losing his balance, his humour or his edge, makes his accomplishment all the more exceptional * Observer *In a few brief sentences Ben Okri captures the arrogance and faceless indifference of the military forces which patrol the margins of these stories * Independent *Stamped with the ease of a truly original imagination -- Wole Soyinka

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Book SynopsisAlice Munro was born in 1931 and was the author of thirteen collections of stories and the novel, Lives of Girls and Women. She received many awards and prizes, including three of Canada's Governor General's Literary Awards and two Giller Prizes, the Rea Award for the Short Story, the Lannan Literary Award, the WHSmith Book Award in the UK, the National Book Critics Circle Award in the US, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Who Do You Think You Are? (previously published as The Beggar Maid), and was awarded the Man Booker International Prize 2009 for her overall contribution to fiction on the world stage, and in 2013 she won the Nobel Prize in Literature. Her stories have appeared in the New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, Paris Review and other publications, and her collections have been translated into thirteen languages. Alice Munro died in 2024.Trade ReviewMunro is at the height of her powers...a testimony to a great talent * Guardian *That Munro is a great writer of short stories should, by now, go without saying. She is also one of the two or three best writers of fiction (of any length) now alive. The title story of this collection is one of her masterpieces...a brilliant piece of story-telling, tautly-structured and exquisitely balanced * Sunday Times *A new collection of Alice Munro stories is a literary event that more and more of us look forward to, we are very unlikely to find a richer or rarer treat all year...the eight new stories in The Love of a Good Woman show this miraculous and truly great writer at the height of her powers...a perfect story collection * Scotland on Sunday *Alice Munro's stories...reward each pleasurable effort, as the best fiction always does...a Munro story has the depth and intricacy of a long novel, more than any other living writer in English...she can account for 20 years of a person's life in a single, telling paragraph, or even in a subtly placed phrase...The Love of a Good Woman is a superb, but unsettling, collection * Daily Telegraph *One of the finest short-story writers of our time...absorbing and brilliant * Observer *

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Book SynopsisWhole lives come into focus in this rich and diverse collection, as Desai trains her luminous spotlight on private universes from India to Canada and New England, from Cornwall to Mexico. Her protagonists set out on journeys and find themselves suddenly beyond the pale, or surprisingly back where they started from. Caught up in cycles of hope and disappointment, their lives are ruled by the seasons, or straitjacketed by the conventions of hospitality, friendship and family. In the title story, a beloved dog, black as Satan, brings nothing but disaster; in another, a business man away from home sees his own death; and elsewhere, old relationships stir up buried resentments, issues demand commitment - or escape. And in the final quiet masterpiece, one of Delhi''s girls of slender means finds a kind of joy and freedom in a strange rooftop community.Trade ReviewExquisite...these stories sparkle with the fire of real diamonds. * The Times *Contemporary Indian fiction writers are among the finest in the world, and Desai at her best, as she is throughout this collection, has deservedly won her place alongside them. * Irish Times *Unsentimental, dazzling, funny and achingly sad. * Literary Review *All her stories are full of a confidence in human nature that is a rarity and a pleasure to encounter. * The Spectator *Anita Desai is one of the most brilliant and subtle writers ever to have described the meeting of eastern and western culture. * Alison Lurie *

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Book SynopsisSet in contemporary Bombay and other cities, these stories reflect the kaleidoscope of urban life - evoking the colour, sounds and white-hot heat of the city. Warm, perceptive, humorous and touched with sadness, Anita Desai''s stories are peopled with intensely individual characters - the man spiritually transformed by the surface texture of a melon; the American wife who, homesick for the verdant farmlands of Vermont, turns to the hippies in the Indian hills; the painter living in a slum who fills his canvasses with flowers, birds and landscapes he has never seen.Trade ReviewAs finely written atmospheric pieces alone the stories would be memorable... As social documents they are absorbing. The volume's profound theme is the tension between convention and exploration, family solidarity and individualism... An admirable humane and responsible achievement -- Hermione Lee * Observer *One of the most brilliant and subtle writers ever to have described the meeting of eastern and western culture * Alison Lurie *Beautifully accomplished and memorable * The Times *Absolutely first-rate…absorbing -- Hermione Lee * Observer *Desai has a gift of opening up a closed world and making it clearly visible * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisTRANSLATED AND WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ROBERT AND ELIZABETH CHANDLER''For the mind, everthing is in the future'' Platonov once wrote; ''for the heart, everything is in the past''. The protagonist of Soul is a young man torn between these opposing desires, sent as a kind of missionary to bring the values of modern Russia to his childhood home town in Central Asia. In this strange, haunting novella, as well as in the seven stories that accompany it, a rediscovered master of twentieth century Russian literature is shown at his wisest and most humane.WITH AN AFTERWORD BY JOHN BERGERTrade ReviewI squint back on our century and I see six writers I think it will be remembered for.They are Marcel Proust, Franz Kafka, Robert Musil, William Faulkner, Andrey Platonov and Samuel Beckett…They are summits in the literary landscape of our century -- Joseph BrodskyRarely does literature come this close to music * Observer *Soul towers above anything else I have read this year. Translated beautifully... It is dark, ascetic, innocent, humane and mystical -- George Szirtes * Irish Times *Andrey Platonov is the most exciting Russian writer to be rediscovered since the end of the Soviet Union. Born in 1899, one of a railway worker's 10 children, he was an engineer, a party member and a model proletarian writer before doubts about Communism, and his literary imagination, landed him in trouble with Stalin. His work stopped being published in the early 1930s and only resurfaced 40 years after his death in 1951...The Foundation Pit will stand out as his masterpiece * Independent *'The Chandlers have brilliantly dealt with the challenges of rendering into readable English the extraordinary quality of Platonov's prose... Overall it is hard to see how we could get a better English version of Platonov's prose-nor one more likely to win him the readers he deserves' -- New York Review of Books * Orlando Figes *

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Book SynopsisRichard Yates was acclaimed as one of the most powerful, compassionate and accomplished writers of America''s post-war generation. Whether addressing the smothered desire of suburban housewives, the white-collar despair of Manhattan office workers or the heartbreak of a single mother with artistic pretensions, Yates ruthlessly examines the hopes and disappointments of ordinary people with empathy and humour.Trade ReviewYates was the most perceptive American writer of the twentieth century * The Times *A major literary event...a remarkable achievement * Independent *His short stories...are absolutely wonderful -- Joseph O'Connor

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