The Best American Short Stories of the Century
2000 short story collection curated by John Updike
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The Best American Short Stories of the Century is a volume in The Best American Short Stories series, was curated by John Updike and co-edited by Katrina Kenison. It consists of 55 stories from 1915 to 1998. The volume was published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.[1]
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| Editor | John Updike and Katrina Kenison |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | The Best American Short Stories |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |
| Publication date | April 20, 2000 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 864 |
| ISBN | 978-0-395-84368-0 |
Background
The series is considered one of the "best-known annual anthologies of short fiction"[2] and has anthologized more than 2,000 short stories, including works by some of the most famous writers in contemporary American literature, curated by well-known guest editors since 1915.[3][4][5]
In particular, the Willa Cather Review wrote that The Best American Short Stories series "became a repository of values" for creative writing programs, college libraries, and literary magazines.[6]
Critical reception
In a starred review, Publishers Weekly stated that "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."[7]
The New York Times stated that "Updike has made some surprising—even striking—selections, and in consequence this collection seems far less predictable than it might have been" and that "Finding wonderful stories that you don't already know is one of this collection's great pleasures."[8]
The Observer noted Updike's curation based not in national themes but rather human sentimentality, stating that "The result is a most interesting mix of good and great, of obscure writers and much-anthologized classics, of literary curios and polished diamonds... In sum, this is a terrific collection that ought to be read by anyone interested in good writing or curious about the 20th-century American social scene."[5]