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The Best American Short Stories of the Century - Hardcover By John Updike - GOOD
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A book that has been read but is in good condition. Very minimal damage to the cover including scuff marks, but no holes or tears. The dust jacket for hard covers may not be included. Binding has minimal wear. The majority of pages are undamaged with minimal creasing or tearing, minimal pencil underlining of text, no highlighting of text, no writing in margins. No missing pages. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections.
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- Buy It NowThe Best American Short Stories of the Century - Hardcover By John Updike - GOOD
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eBay item number:254997334795
Item specifics
- Condition
- Brand
- Unbranded
- MPN
- Does not apply
- ISBN
- 0395843685
- Book Title
- Best American Short Stories of the Century
- Book Series
- Best American Ser.
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
- Item Length
- 9 in
- Publication Year
- 1999
- Type
- Textbook
- Format
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- Item Height
- 3.3 in
- Genre
- Fiction
- Topic
- Anthologies (Multiple Authors)
- Item Weight
- 42.3 Oz
- Item Width
- 6 in
- Number of Pages
- 800 Pages
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
ISBN-10
0395843685
ISBN-13
9780395843680
eBay Product ID (ePID)
295816
Product Key Features
Book Title
Best American Short Stories of the Century
Number of Pages
800 Pages
Language
English
Publication Year
1999
Topic
Anthologies (Multiple Authors)
Genre
Fiction
Type
Textbook
Book Series
Best American Ser.
Format
Hardcover
Dimensions
Item Height
3.3 in
Item Weight
42.3 Oz
Item Length
9 in
Item Width
6 in
Additional Product Features
Intended Audience
Trade
Selected by
Updike, John
LCCN
00-269492
TitleLeading
The
Dewey Edition
21
Reviews
Finding wonderful stories that you don't already know is one of this collection's great pleasures... , At age 67, the perennially youthful John Updike may at last qualify as something of an elder statesman. But the Best American Short Stories annual--whose greatest hits package Updike has now assembled--is almost a generation older, having commenced publication in 1915. This staying power allows the hefty Best American Short Stories of the Century to perform double duty. It is, on the one hand, a priceless compendium of American manners and morals--a decade-by-decade survey of how we lived then, and how we live now. Yet Updike very consciously avoided the sociological angle in making his selection. "I tried not to select stories because they illustrated a theme or portion of the national experience," he writes in his introduction, "but because they struck me as lively, beautiful, believable, and, in the human news they brought, important." In this he succeeded: the 55 fictions that made the grade are most notable for their human (rather than merely historical) interest. So who got in? There are a good number of cut-and-dried classics here, including Hemingway's "The Killers," Faulkner's "That Evening Sun Go Down," and Philip Roth's acidic spin on religious connivance, "Defender of the Faith." In other cases, major authors are represented by relatively minor works. Yet it's hard to quibble with the inclusion of Willa Cather, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tennessee Williams, J.F. Powers, Eudora Welty--particularly when you take into account that their second-tier creations are fully the equal of anybody else's masterpieces. And the final third of the book really does constitute an honor roll of contemporary American fiction, with brilliant entries by Saul Bellow, Donald Barthelme, Raymond Carver, Tim O'Brien, Bernard Malamud, Cynthia Ozick, John Cheever, and Vladimir Nabokov. (For the latter, Updike actually succumbed to his own idolatry and bent the rules for admission--but nobody who reads the hallucinatory "That in Aleppo Once..." will regret it.) It goes without saying that fiction fans will be complaining about the editor's sins of omission well into the next century. But no matter how you slice it, this remains an elegant and essential advertisement for the short form., "Finding wonderful stories that you don't already know is one of this collection's great pleasures... " The New York Times "...a thrillingly energized argument for the enduring vitality of big ideas in small packages." Entertainment Weekly, "A treasure - a one-volume literary history of this country's immeasurable pains and near-infinite hopes." Boston Globe "Finding wonderful stories that you don't already know is one of this collection's great pleasures... " The New York Times "The short story - not to mention America and the twentieth century - at its best." The Wall Street Journal "...a thrillingly energized argument for the enduring vitality of big ideas in small packages." Entertainment Weekly, The task had to be daunting, selecting the 55 stories that grace this volume. The title alone is daunting: the best? But the riches containedAincluding a foreword by Kenison and a deft introduction from UpdikeAprove the title accurate. Consider the resources mined: 2000 stories anthologized in annual best-of volumes since 1915. Although certain notable story writers, John O'Hara for one, never made it into the series and others who did have been crowded out of this volume, the stories excavated and displayed herein are gems. Often these are the gems one would expectAsuch as John Cheever's balance of the magical and the sinister in "The Country Husband," about an inappropriate desire that floods a man after a plane crash. What story captures better than "Greenleaf" Flannery O'Connor's affrontery before Protestantism and her vision of unearned grace? And would readers expect anything less of Dorothy Parker than "Here We Are," a scathing yet poignant depiction of a newly married couple bickering like old retirees? Indeed, the volume includes such signature stories as Joyce Carol Oates's "Where Are You Going, where Have You Been?," Cynthia Ozick's "The Shawl," Raymond Carver's "Where I'm Calling From" and Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried." But some stories here by the well-known are not necessarily the best known. Fitzgerald is represented not by "Babylon Revisited" but by "Crazy Sunday," about the perilous life of a screenwriter employed at a director's whim. The transient world captured in Eudora Welty's "The Hitch-Hikers" seems far removed from the homier gardens, parlors, and post offices familiar from her other fiction. And readers can be grateful that Updike chose not "The Magic Barrel" but Bernard Malamud's "The German Refugee," a tale that ends with a dark if O. Henry-like reversal. In Kenison's words, these stories are "an invaluable record of our century." The book opens with Benjamin Rosenblatt's "Zelig," a tale of an immigrant who longs against reason to return to Russia. Immigration is a recurring theme, picked up again in Alexander Godin's sadly ironic "My Dead Brother Comes to America," And that we are nearly all descendants of immigrants is Aas apparent in Willa Cather's "Double Birthday" or Saul Bellow's "A Silver Dish" as in Gish Jen's bitterly funny "Birthmates," about a Chinese-American as trapped by his self-definition as by the racism of others. In his introduction, Updike writes, "The American experience... has been brutal and hard." The stories bear this out. In Elizabeth Bishop's "The Farmer's Children," two boys freeze protecting their father's equipment, while in Grace Stone Coates's lovely "Wild Plums," a young girl is forbidden to gather fruit with a family her mother deems socially inferior. Life on this continent may be brutal, but this extraordinary collection offers up dazzling writing that salves the wounds, as well as stories full of the pleasures of life., Smart writing, a mastery of the time period and impeccable research is what we've come to expect from Elizabeth Chadwick and she certainly brought it with For the King's Favor .
Dewey Decimal
813/.010805
Edition Description
Teacher's edition
Synopsis
Since the series' inception in 1915, the annual volumes of The Best American Short Stories have launched literary careers, showcased the most compelling stories of each year, and confirmed for all time the significance of the short story in our national literature. Now THE BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES OF THE CENTURY brings together the best of the best - fifty-five extraordinary stories that represent a century's worth of unsurpassed accomplishments in this quintessentially American literary genre. Here are the stories that have endured the test of time: masterworks by such writers as Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Willa Cather, F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Saroyan, Flannery O'Connor, John Cheever, Eudora Welty, Philip Roth, Joyce Carol Oates, Raymond Carver, Cynthia Ozick, and scores of others. These are the writers who have shaped and defined the landscape of the American short story, who have unflinchingly explored all aspects of the human condition, and whose works will continue to speak to us as we enter the next century. Their artistry is represented splendidly in these pages. THE BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES series has also always been known for making literary discoveries, and discovery proved to be an essential part of selecting the stories for this volume too. Collections from years past yielded a rich harvest of surprises, stories that may have been forgotten but still retain their relevance and luster. The result is a volume that not only gathers some of the most significant stories of our century between two covers but resurrects a handful of lost literary gems as well. Of all the great writers whose work has appeared in the series, only John Updike's contributions have spanned five consecutive decades, from his first appearance, in 1959, to his most recent, in 1998. Updike worked with coeditor Katrina Kenison to choose stories from each decade that meet his own high standards of literary quality., Since the series' inception in 1915, the annual volumes of The Best American Short Stories have launched literary careers, showcased the most compelling stories of each year, and confirmed for all time the significance of the short story in our national literature. Now THE BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES OF THE CENTURY brings together the best of the best - fifty-five extraordinary stories that represent a century's worth of unsurpassed accomplishments in this quintessentially American literarygenre. Here are the stories that have endured the test of time: masterworks by such writers as Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Willa Cather, F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Saroyan, Flannery O'Connor, John Cheever, Eudora Welty, Philip Roth, Joyce Carol Oates, Raymond Carver, Cynthia Ozick, and scores of others. These are the writers who have shaped and defined the landscape of the American short story, who have unflinchingly explored all aspects of the human condition, and whose works will continue to speak to us as we enter the next century. Their artistry is represented splendidly in these pages. THE BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES series has also always been known for making literary discoveries, and discovery proved to be an essential part of selecting the stories for this volume too. Collections from years past yielded a rich harvest of surprises, stories that may have been forgotten but still retain their relevance and luster. The result is a volume that not only gathers some ofthe most significant stories of our century between two covers but resurrects a handful of lost literary gems as well. Of all the great writers whose work has appeared in the series, only John Updike's contributions have spanned five consecutive decades, from his first appearance, in 1959, to his most recent, in 1998. Updike worked with coeditor Katrina Kenison to choose stories from each decade that meet his own high standards of literary quality.
LC Classification Number
PS648.S5B45 2000
Item description from the seller
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- l***p (97)- Feedback left by buyer.Past yearVerified purchaseI have not read this book yet, but I want to give positive feedback for the seller. I have purchased many books from this seller, and the condition of each book has been accurately described. The prices are great and the shipping is fast and free. I have been pleased with all of my purchases from SecondSale.com.
- p***h (1484)- Feedback left by buyer.More than a year agoVerified purchaseCollection of American short stories
- 2***s (255)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseExcellent buying experience all the way around. Much appreciated.
- c***m (410)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseWOW!; I cannot believe this 4 Days to Hawaii! ; AAA+++; Excellent Service; Great Pricing; Fast Delivery-Faster Than Expected to Hawaii!; Shipped 06 03, Tues, Received 06/07 Sat to Hawaii using free shipping; USPS Ground Mail, Hardcover Book in Excellent Condition--Better Than Described ; TLC Packaging; Excellent Seller Communication, Sends updates . Highly Recommended!, Thank you very much!
- c***c (489)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseExcellent eBay seller with good communications!!! Book came as described (GOOD condition), reasonably packaged (plastic mailer bag with 3 other books), and in very good time considering free shipping (projected delivery 5/7 thru 5/12; rcvd 5/10). Have purchased multiple books from SecondSalecom, and have been quite satisfied with the quality, appearance, and value of those purchases. Will definitely check their selection for future book purchases. Thanks, SecondSalecom!
- x***l- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseI had a positive experience with this seller. I did receive an incorrect item in my package, but when I reached out to the seller about the problem, they responded in a timely manner and resolved the issue. Items were packaged in a bag but arrived in good condition as described. I am very happy with the condition of the books I received. Great value. I have already placed additional orders with this seller. Thank you!
Product ratings and reviews
Most relevant reviews
- Oct 02, 2018
Short stories, easy reading
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: discover-books
- Mar 27, 2020
great collection.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: discover-books
- Apr 30, 2024
The book was in very
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: mtwyouth
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Seller feedback (7,662,882)
This item (7)
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- l***p (97)- Feedback left by buyer.Past yearVerified purchaseI have not read this book yet, but I want to give positive feedback for the seller. I have purchased many books from this seller, and the condition of each book has been accurately described. The prices are great and the shipping is fast and free. I have been pleased with all of my purchases from SecondSale.com.
- p***h (1484)- Feedback left by buyer.More than a year agoVerified purchaseCollection of American short stories
- 2***s (255)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseExcellent buying experience all the way around. Much appreciated.
- c***m (410)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseWOW!; I cannot believe this 4 Days to Hawaii! ; AAA+++; Excellent Service; Great Pricing; Fast Delivery-Faster Than Expected to Hawaii!; Shipped 06 03, Tues, Received 06/07 Sat to Hawaii using free shipping; USPS Ground Mail, Hardcover Book in Excellent Condition--Better Than Described ; TLC Packaging; Excellent Seller Communication, Sends updates . Highly Recommended!, Thank you very much!
- c***c (489)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseExcellent eBay seller with good communications!!! Book came as described (GOOD condition), reasonably packaged (plastic mailer bag with 3 other books), and in very good time considering free shipping (projected delivery 5/7 thru 5/12; rcvd 5/10). Have purchased multiple books from SecondSalecom, and have been quite satisfied with the quality, appearance, and value of those purchases. Will definitely check their selection for future book purchases. Thanks, SecondSalecom!
- x***l- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseI had a positive experience with this seller. I did receive an incorrect item in my package, but when I reached out to the seller about the problem, they responded in a timely manner and resolved the issue. Items were packaged in a bag but arrived in good condition as described. I am very happy with the condition of the books I received. Great value. I have already placed additional orders with this seller. Thank you!