THE SIX BEST SHORT STORIES

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3280, 25 February 1926, Page 5

THE SIX BEST SHORT STORIES

Sir.—Would it not be interesting to obtain the six best short stories in the world? This must, of course, be a purely personal question, and J abosolute merits of any works, merely getting down the titles of these stories which have most appealed to mo in the course of a fairly wide reading.

1. Stacy Aumonier’s “The Great Unimpreslonable." 2. Maupassant’s “Ghost.”

3. Ambrose 'Bierce’s “The Man and the Snake."

4. Cyril ■ McNeile’s “Good Hunting, Old Chap." 5. G. K. Chesterton’s “The Three Tools of,Death.” 0. W. W. Jacob’s “The Monkey’s Paw.” !

When 'the choice is defiintely 'made, doubts come thronging upon one. Still, if the amount of pleasure obtained from a story be the criterion, 1 think ..my selection is justified; but I am not unmindful of fife claims of "Wandering Willie's Talc,” of Neil Munro’s short stories, or of those of the late Katherine Mansfield, the artistic merits of whose works I recognize, while denying their claims to be short stories in the generally accepted sense of the term. It will, therefore, be obvious that the work of the Russians does not particularly appeal to me. Yours, etc., , T. HENRY.