In the Tunnel

In the Tunnel: Short story by Mavis GallantThis story from Mavis Gallant deals with the experiences of a Canadian college student “banished” to Europe by her strict father to end an affair with a married professor. While there, she falls prey to a troubled older man who appears practiced in picking up vulnerable young woman and discarding them immediately something happens that is not to his liking. Their time together, living in his “tunnel-like” room in the garden of an eccentric, thoroughly dislikeable British couple, is not what she expected. Themes: amoureuse mal placé (misplaced love), independence, exploitation, betrayal, cruelty, politics, aging, identity.

Continue ReadingIn the Tunnel

Everyone Cried

Everyone Cried: Flash story by Lydia DavisThis story from Lydia Davis is sad enough to make you want to cry. It paints a bleak picture of how our lives are dominated by the little things that go wrong, and how these can lead to depression and tears. Some respite may come at the end of the day, but only if things are going well at home. Most of the story is told in the past tense, about a time when I was young. Does this imply that as we get older we become so accustomed to these daily frustrations that they don’t bother us as much?

Continue ReadingEveryone Cried

Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens: Short story by Virginia WoolfRather than a unified plot, this Virginia Woolf story describes a series of unrelated events over a few minutes of time. A married couple exchange memories of earlier visits to the gardens; an eccentric old man accompanied by a carer talks nonsense to the flowers; two elderly women break into their small talk to gossip about the old man; an infatuated young couple create their own memories for later visits; a purposeful snail decides on the best path to its destination. Themes: peace and beauty amid turmoil, isolation, memories, regret, aging, romance, gender roles, aimlessness vs. focus and determination.

Continue ReadingKew Gardens

Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come To You, My Lad

Oh, Whistle and I'll Come To You, My Lad: Short story by M. R. JamesIn this story by M. R. James, a colleague asks a young university professor to scope out some monastic ruins for a possible archaeological dig while away on a golfing holiday. As he investigates the area near what would have been the altar, he finds an artificial cavity in the masonry that contains an ancient bronze whistle with strange inscriptions. He was originally unhappy that the only available room in his hotel had two beds but this proves fortunate, providing the terrifying personage he “whistles up” a place to spend the night. Themes include fear, agnosticism, the supernatural.

Continue ReadingOh, Whistle and I’ll Come To You, My Lad

A Horseman in the Sky

A Horseman in the Sky: Short story by Ambrose BierceThis war story from Ambrose Bierce has three main themes: 1) honor and the need to do ones duty; 2) the brutality of any kind of war; and 3) the particularly cruel nature of civil war, which can set friend against friend and family against family. For me, the defining moment in the story is when the enemy soldier turns and seemingly looks into Carter Druse’s eyes. As Carter recognizes his father, does his father also see and recognize him? Could knowing that Carter did his duty explain the proud way the horseman appeared to ‘ride’ through the sky?

Continue ReadingA Horseman in the Sky

The Memsahib of Mandla

The Memsahib of Mandla: Short story by Khushwant SinghIn this story by Khushwant Singh, nature and the ghost of a woman who founded an Indian missionary school combine to drive a British man and his family from a forest officer’s rest house. The rest house was the woman’s home before it was appropriated by the government, and hasn’t been lived in since she died. In addition to being insensitive and chauvinistic, the husband typifies the stereotype of arrogant, self-serving British officials during the Raj. He decides to shoot the ghost, but things don’t turn out as planned. Themes include colonialism, humanitarianism, loyalty, fear, justice, the supernatural.

Continue ReadingThe Memsahib of Mandla

Battle Royal

Battle Royal: Short story by Ralph EllisonThis “coming of age story” is the self-contained first chapter of Ralph Ellison’s acclaimed novel, Invisible Man. A young African American is invited to repeat his high school graduation speech, which focused on humility, at a gathering of the town’s leading white citizens. Upon arrival, he learns that he must first participate in a “battle royal”: a depraved, demeaning group fight event. When he finally makes his speech, few people pay any attention until a slip of the tongue changes its tone from humble to activist. Themes include heritage and identity, naiveté, racism, emancipation, class, sexism, violence.

Continue ReadingBattle Royal

Diamond Cuts Diamond

Diamond Cuts Diamond: Indian folktale from Andrew LangIn this Indian folktale, a man travels to a distant land to seek his fortune. He succeeds and decides to convert his riches to jewels and return home. As he nears home, a ‘friendly’ merchant warns him that there are robbers on the road ahead. The traveler leaves his jewels in the care of the merchant. He then travels home to hire men to help him get the jewels through safely. On his return, the merchant tries to cheat him. To get the jewels back, the traveler needs help from someone who is even better at cheating than the merchant.

Continue ReadingDiamond Cuts Diamond