Reading the stories one after another yields an illuminating historical sweep. These two volumes provide a great survey of british short stories. Henshers early works of fiction been characterized as having an ironic, knowing distance from their characters and icily precise skewerings of pretension and hypocrisy. Its like travelling through the history of the british short story, from 1705 to 1925. The penguin book of the contemporary british short. Hensher was right to emphasise in the penguin collection that stories were written to be read in isolation but he unwittingly identified the central problem with the book he was introducing. Philip henshers timely, but timeless, selection of the best short stories. Philip hensher s introduction is spiky and thoughtprovoking and volume i. Pdf the penguin book of english short stories download. Philip henshers timely, but timeless, selection of the best short stories from the past 20.
In this extract, hensher introduces the collection. Wodehouse to zadie smith penguin classic, gbp25 each offer readers the chance to enjoy the varieties and mutations of british stories across four centuries. Philip hensher edited by sometimes not often a book comes along that feels like christmas. Compiling a collection of the best british short stories sounds as much fun as reading it. The best british short stories from daniel defoe to zadie smith philip henshers twovolume anthology is bigger and broader than anything else available and. Philip henshers timely, but timeless, selection of the best short stories from the past 20 years. Other distinguished writers in this modern tradition of retelling old stories, such as sara maitland and marina warner, are ignored. The penguin book of the british short story edited by philip hensher unknowns sit alongside the greats in this bold anthology of short stories. The penguin book of the british short story adam marek.
The penguin book of the contemporary british short story edited by philip hensher the best of british fiction, condensed this book of treats will stay fresh long after we are gone. The penguin book of the contemporary british short story, edited by philip hensher. If you received a gift card for christmas or a birthday and youre looking for something to spend it on, might i suggest you consider the new penguin book of the british short story edited by philip hensher. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Selfindulgent, partisan and notsodefinitive, this british shortstory collection is still. The penguin book of the british short story, volume 2. The authors and their stories will be revealed on publication. This volume takes the story from the 1920s to the present day. The penguin book of the british short story, volume 1 by. Kennedy, tessa hadley, kazuo ishiguro, jackie kay, graham swift, jane gardam, ali.
Philip hensher, following the great success of his definitive twovolume penguin book of british short stories, has been reading a vast trove of material and has. Philip henshers timely, but timeless, selection of the best short stories from the past 20 years is that kind of book. Philip hensher is the editor of the highlypraised twovolume penguin book of the british short story. From daniel defoe to pg wodehouse hensher, philip on.
Philip hensher, following the success of his definitive penguin book of british short stories, has scoured a vast trove of material and chosen thirty great stories for this new volume of works written between 1997 and the present day. The penguin book of the british short story by philip hensher. In straitened times for writers, you would think a prize bonanza like this is a good thing but it cuts no ice with philip hensher, editor of. The penguin book of the british short story, edited by philip hensher. The penguin book of the contemporary british short story.
Philip hensher, following the great success of his definitive twovolume penguin book of british short stories, has been reading a vast trove of material and has despite the relative lack of venues in which they can be published, the challenge the medium represents has attracted many remarkable writers. Short fiction authors stand tall in a surprising collection book. Edited and introduced by novelist and journalist philip hensher, the penguin book of the british short story celebrates the diversity and energy of british writers. Philip hensher, following the great success of his definitive twovolume the penguin book of the british short story, has been reading a vast trove of material and has chosen thirty great stories, written between the death of princess diana and the present day. Im so thrilled that my story the 40litre monkey has been included in the penguin book of the british short story. Buy the penguin book of the contemporary british short story by hensher, philip from amazons fiction books store. Philip hensher on the british short story penguin books. Philip hensher discusses the nature of british short stories and reveals the list of works in the penguin book of the contemporary british short story for the first time. The most famous authors are here, and many others, including some magnificent stories never republished since their first appearance in magazines and periodicals. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the penguin book of the british short story. The penguin book of the british short story edited by.
His most recent novel is a small revolution in germany. Philip hensher discusses the nature of british short stories and reveals the list of works in the penguin book of the contemporary british short. From daniel defoe to john buchan 01 by hensher, philip isbn. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Edited and with an introduction by philip hensher, the awardwinning novelist, critic and journalist. Editor philip hensher read over 6,000 short stories, going all the way back to daniel defoe, to make his selection for this incredibly handsome twovolume collection of british short stories. The penguin book of the british short story, edited by. Thirtyfive stories by thirtyfive authors, all significant writers of english literature. Philip henshers unabashedly personal selection can yield an illuminating. Enveloping hush and a subzero climate both at once, ideally emerge as something to reach for, a short story short cut. The penguin book of the british short story in searchworks. A collection of short fiction from the past 20 years, edited by philip hensher, pushes the limits of taste more than form. Wodehouse to zadie smith kindle edition by hensher, philip.
He is professor of creative writing at bath spa university. Volume 1 of this anthology, edited by philip hensher, came out in 2015 and contained 36 stories by as many authors, published between 1705 and 1927. The penguin book of the british short story, volume 1. The best british short stories from daniel defoe to. Philip hensher s timely, but timeless, selection of the best short stories from the past 20 years is that kind of book. The penguin book of the british short story penguin blog. The penguin book of the british short story has a permanent authority. Philip hensher, following the great success of his definitive twovolume penguin book of british short stories, has been reading a vast trove of material and has chosen thirty great stories, written between the death of princess diana and the present dayprovided by publisher. Sometimes not often a book comes along that feels like christmas. Hensher, philip philip hensher is the editor of the penguin book of the british short story two volumes and of the penguin book of the contemporary british short story.