The first principle for composing the ideal fiction anthology is self-evident: Fill it with stories that discriminating readers have liked most. "Nothing, of course, will ever take the place of the good old fashion of "liking' a work of art or not liking it," said Henry James. He called this the "primitive" and the "ultimate" test--stressing at the same time the necessity of other critical tactics and measures to be employed along the way. As usual, James was right...

Chronological Table of Contents 

Preface xiii

Preface to the Sixth Edition 

Talking about Fiction 

CHARACTER AND SETTING 

ACTION, PLOT, AND

COMPLICATION

POINT OF VIEW

INDIRECTION 

THE PART AND THE

WHOLE

COHERENCE

General Questions 

SHERWOOD ANDERSON

I Want to Know Why 1

MARGARET ATWOOD

Death by Landscape 9

JAMES BALDWIN

Sonny's Blues 22

ANN BEATTIE

Snow 46

AMBROSE BIERCE

An Occurrence at Owl Creek

Bridge 48

RAYMOND CARVER

Cathedral 56

WILLA CATHER

Paul's Case 67

ANDREA BARRETT ON "PAUL'S

CASE" 82

JOHN CHEEVER

The Enormous Radio 84

ANTON CHEKHOV

The Lady with the Dog 93

KATE CHOPIN

The Story of an Hour 106

JOSEPH CONRAD

Heart of Darkness 109

BARRY HANNAH ON "HEART

OF DARKNESS" 171

JULIO CORTAZAR

A Continuity of Parks 174

STEPHEN CRANE

The Open Boat 176

ALLAN GURGANUS ON "THE

OPEN BOAT" 195

ANDRE DUBUS

The Intruder 198

RALPH ELLISON

King of the Bingo Game 208

LOUISE ERDRICH

Matcbimanito 216

WILLIAM FAULKNER

Barn Burning 230

The Bear 243

......