In Pursuit of a Trailblazing Storyteller
KENNETH OKPOMO takes a closer look at one of Nigeria’s literary talents: ‘Helon Habila’s ascendancy into literary fame and stardom did not come by accident or chance; he worked hard for it…’
Short Story Masterclass with… Tessa Hadley
PODCAST: In the second instalment of this series of Short Story Masterclass podcasts, Jac Cattaneo talks with TESSA HADLEY about the differences between writing short stories and novels, starting points and the power of speech.
The Ache in Ali Smith’s Stories
‘Consider the word ‘quirky’. Consider the number of times the word is applied to the works of Ali Smith … But maybe it’s not that these stories are ‘quirky’, it’s that so many others are too sedate…’ TRACY MAYLATH looks beyond the quirkiness of Ali Smith’s stories.
Dark Satanic Mills
PAT TOMPKINS considers the flawed but powerful story of human aspiration and the consequences of industrialisation: ‘Life in the Iron Mills’ brings us a view of outsiders, those ignored and disdained by the wider society. As the best short stories do, it gives voice to the lonely…’
The Insufferable Miss Snell
JL BOGENSCHNEIDER finds humanity in Richard Yates’ short story ‘Fun with a Stranger’: ‘He has a particular knack of empathising with even the most flawed of his characters; fanning out their vulnerabilities like a poker hand to prove that they’re human, like the rest of us…’
Carver: An Appreciation
In this essay, EVAN GUILFORD-BLAKE finds that Carver’s stories are ‘populated by seemingly uncomplicated people, but they are people who are damaged or empty; vessels, which Carver’s carefully controlled compassion gives us reasons to want to fix and fill…’
A Handbook for Being Human
HOLLY DAWSON examines the themes and preoccupations of David Constantine’s short stories: ‘If there were a handbook on how to be human when sadness and cruelty are an intrinsic part of being alive, Tea at the Midland would be it…’
Contemplating ‘Mr Carlton’
NEIL CAMPBELL pauses for thought in the world of David Constantine: ‘The contemplation of those moments helps our humanity, and it helps Mr Carlton, provides solace. Constantine, like Hemingway before him, has a naturalist’s eye for observed detail.’