The Higgler” by A.E. Coppard Number 14 of 27 Great British Short Stories Premise: A poor travelling salesman/buyer (a “Higgler”) misjudges a situation, to his cost. Review: Lovely, but bitter/sad. Three consequential deaths - the mouse, the horse, the human. Outa ten: 10 Keywords: Love, Poverty, Death Quotes: “Mrs Sadgrove had been a widow for... Continue Reading →
“The Brute” by Joseph Conrad #GBSS13/27
"The Brute” by Joseph Conrad Number 13 of 27 Great British Short Stories Premise: Death Ship!! The Brute was written in early 1906, and published in The Daily Chronicle in December 1906. It was later collected in A Set of Six, published in 1908 (UK) and 1915 (US). The other stories in this collection of... Continue Reading →
“The Traveller’s Story of a Terribly Strange Bed” by Wilkie Collins #GBSS12/27
“The Traveller's Story of a Terribly Strange Bed” by Wilkie Collins Number 12 of 27 Great British Short Stories Premise: Someone wins a lot of money gambling, but there’s a catch Wikipedia page here Review: Fun, overwrought etc Outa ten: 8 Keywords: Paris, crime Quotes: none Words: Valance - A bed valance, or bed skirt,... Continue Reading →
“The Hammer of God” by G.K. Chesterton #GBSS11/27
“The Hammer of God” by G.K. Chesterton Number 11 of 27 Great British Short Stories Premise: Father Brown has to solve an insoluble murder, in just a few pages. Review: Yes, nicely done. I can see why the Father Brown stories are so successful, although it’s not really my thing Here’s the wikipedia entry. Outa... Continue Reading →
“The Demon Lover” by Elizabeth Bowen – creepy af #GBSS10/27
“The Demon Lover” by Elizabeth Bowen Number 10 of 27 Great British Short Stories Premise: A woman finds a letter in her Blitz-threatened house Review: Creepy af. Clever, nasty etc. Outa ten: 10 Keywords: World War 2, World War 1, London, Blitz, psychopomps Quotes: “... her married London home’s air of being a cracked cup... Continue Reading →
“Running Wolf” by Algernon Blackwood #GBSS09/27
Running Wolf” by Algernon Blackwood Number 9 of 27 Great British Short Stories Premise: A clerk goes fishing in the Canadian wilderness and gets more than he bargained for. Review: I loved this. Absolutely beautifully done. Eerie, menace, a satisfying resolution. Outa ten: 10 Keywords: nature, supernatural, Canada Quotes: “The man who enjoys an adventure... Continue Reading →
“The Avenging Chance” by Anthony Berkeley #GBSS08/27
"The Avenging Chance” by Anthony Berkeley Number 8 of 27 Great British Short Stories Premise: A murder is committed with a box of chocolates - (you never know which one you’re going to get). By whom? Why? Review: Great fun! Doesn’t outstay its welcome. Is plausible enough (for the genre). Outa ten: 10 Keywords: crime,... Continue Reading →
“Death, Fire and Life” by Arnold Bennett #GBS07/27
"Death, Fire and Life" by Arnold Bennett Number 7 of 27 Great British Short Stories Premise: An out of work sixty year old is visiting a chemist… Review: Very nicely done. Mixtures of pathos and pathos, foreboding and plausible happy-ish (the ish is doing a lot of work there) endings. Outa ten: 9 Keywords: poverty,... Continue Reading →
“Jumping the Gun” or “Kristallnacht 2.0 is postponed (not cancelled)”
There's a Meatloaf song that applies to the frothing anticipation of a pogrom postponed in the US in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting. That song is "Jumping the Gun," rom the album Bad Attitude. It's not very good, but I loved it when I was 16 or 17. Feel like jumpin’ the gun,... Continue Reading →
“The Apprentice” by Hilaire Belloc #GBSS06/27
The Apprentice by Hilaire Belloc Number 6 of 27 Great British Short Stories Premise: Someone downs tools to watch a certain public execution in London in January 1649 Review: Very nicely done. Belloc knew how to set a mood Outa ten: 9 Keywords: winter, public events Quotes: none Words: none (though onyx is such a... Continue Reading →
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