Dorothy Abbott

This is an excellent collection of short stories, thus my high rating. However, it in no way lives up to its promise to provide the whole range of Southern short fiction. Most of the stories focus on either the terrible Southern history of slavery, lynchings, and general mistreatment of black people or on the role of women in Southern society. Much of the fiction here is dark indeed (I wouldn't recommend it to my 13-year old daughter)--but it is very well written, and except for one of Poe's poorer stories, is consistently engaging. Only a few moments of light begin to creep in toward the end of the book, where there is even a little bit of understanding between the races. The 1991 publication date, of course, excludes some of the wonderful Southern writers to have emerged since then. My story-by-story reviews and ratings follow, indicated by the author name:

Simms: Chilling tale, told in the first person, will leave a cold place in your stomach. Could have done without the final paragraph. Human nature doesn't change much, does it? (4 1/2)

Longstreet: A nice, slightly humorous story about aging, remembering your youth (perhaps not all that accurately) and meeting a long lost love. The small details and observations make this a very well done piece of writing. (4)

Poe: In trying to avoid reprinting an over-anthologized tale, and looking for one with some connection to the South, the editors have settled upon one of Poe's lesser creations--overwrought, contrived, and almost silly. More like a poor attempt to write a Poe story than a real one. It does make me want to take the rather short journey from home to the Ragged Mountains, however. (1 1/2)

King: We're in Jane Austen territory here at first, but then we move well beyond it. This short, well-written tale of a woman unwilling to marry except for love is deeply sad and will make it hard to endure Austen's inevitable happy endings again! (5)

Cable: Highly atmospheric tale of an old Frenchman in New Orleans who refuses to give up his land as the city grows. Though well-written, the ending isn't a surprise. (3 1/2)

Woolman: Emotionally wrenching story of a little girl who falls desperately in love with two visiting strangers. Well-written and sad and memorable, but perhaps a little overwrought. Highly atmospheric. (3 1/2)

Chesnutt: Let me say, to this point this is not a book of happy stories, and this well-written nail-biter about a white sheriff and his mulatto prisoner truly explores the dark side of slavery and racial prejudice. Perhaps fittingly there are no easy answers or neat conclusion. (4 1/2)

Chopin: Another exceedingly sad story about the effects of racial prejudice. short and simple. (4)

Dunbar-Nelson: Yet another tale with an incredible cruelty at its center. By this point, it is hard to think the editors don't have an agenda--and perhaps the title of this volume should be "The Signet Classic Book of Stories about the Plight of Women". (4 1/2)

Elliot: Wow. The evil of racism at the heart of this story, as embodied by the character of Aunt Alice, is truly terrifying, and the story's ending rings so true--and infinitely horrible. (5)

Glasgow: Another story centered on a woman, but this time the central issue isn't one of race but one of North vs. South and a terrible betrayal. The story is told in a very extended, save-the-surprise-for-the-end manner, but Glasgow writes so well, and the story's multiple levels mesh so well, that the grim journey is actually a pleasure. (4 1/2)

Hurston: At the end of such a parade of tragedy, finally a story drenched in the joy of an irrepressible little girl. Also includes harmony between the races as an added bonus. (5)

Faulkner: The horror of living in the South, perfectly written, and, sadly, so true. It hurts to read this story. (5)

Caldwell: It just gets worse. Unlike the ludicrous, unbelievable grotesques in his Tobacco Road, the poor sharecropper at the center of this story is far too believable, as are the other characters with their innate cruelty and awful blood lust. Terrifying, spiteful, and gut-wrenching. (5)

Gordon: Quite a beautiful story about hunting, the comradeship of the two hunters, the respect and love for the dogs, and the satisfaction of a good strategy and a good short. However, as I've never been hunting myself I'll just have to assume the author knows what SHE is talking about. It is hard not to wonder, however, if these two hunters are also the type of men who would just as readily join a lynch mob. That's what the accumulating horror of these stories will make you think. (4 1/2)

Warren: Short, basically depressing story about a tobacco farming family and their interrelationships. As expected from Warren, it is well-written, but was it really the best choice for this volume? (3 1/2)

Wright: Other than getting rid of a couple of instances of repetition, there is nothing that could be done to improve this story. The harrowing tale of a fatal encounter between four black boys and a white couple grips you from the first word and doesn't let go. Wright's descriptive passages are poetic--the dialogue, written in an easy to decipher dialect, is urgent and direct. Despite its horror, this is a story that at least holds out a little hope. (5)

Rawlings: A nicely told tale of a woman's ideal marriage--that isn't so ideal after all. (4)

McCullers: Quirky and memorable tale of a paperboy's early morning encounter with a stranger who has a story to tell. (4 1/2)

Yerby: Another very effective story about the terrible burden of racial discrimination and how it strips the dignity from a black soldier. (5)

Williams: An 8-page story that has humor, the supernatural, and consumption! Williams is known as a playwright, but he is quite simply a great writer--period. (5)

Welty: Two strangers, New Orleans, and an atmospheric ride South of town to land's end and a beer joint. A great story about human relationships. Lots of depths and shades of light here. (Finally a story about what people can do for each other rather than to each other.) (5)

Hale: Short and beautiful little story that avoids the obvious ending (or at least what might seem obvious after reading the other stories in this book) to deliver a genuine moment of human warmth. (It isn't really clear what makes this a Southern short story, as the writer was born in Boston to a noted family and only moved to Virginia in her 30s.) (4)

Capote: This story is absolute perfection. Writing simply does not get any better or more meaningful. If it doesn't bring tears to your eyes, you aren't human. Thank goodness that the editors allowed at least a little positive human spirit to creep into this generally depressing book. This makes me want to go back and subtract half a star from all the other stories so this can stand alone. (5)

Childress: While this short piece--I'd hardly call it a story--rightly points out the universality--if to different degrees--of racism, it is hardly a great short story. Perhaps the editors felt compelled to include it to offset some (most) of the rest of the book. It can hardly be called a Southern short story--or even a short story. Three stars simply for the sentiment. (3)

Spencer: A wonderful story about love, perfectly told. Not all the elements are happy, but the story's overall effect is one of joy. (5)

Douglas: Harrowing story about a dangerous fishing trip. Interesting relationship between a white family and their former maid. A bit over-melodramatic with too much emphasis on the maid's superstitions. It isn't really clear what point the author is trying to make--but the rather long short story nevertheless pulls you along to a satisfactory conclusion. (4)

Gaines: Wonderful story told from the perspective of an 8-year old boy. Between the descriptions of the cold weather and a toothache, you'll have sympathy pains. (4.5)

Taylor: Odd, funny reminiscences of a car journey with an interesting side trip. One of those stories that says so little--but says so much. Perfectly written. (5)

O'Connor: Oddball story of a self-satisfied woman who comes face-to-face with a veritable demonic presence in a doctor's office, and the aftereffect it has on her. Not a particularly likable story--but memorable. (3.5)

Oliver: Beautifully written and sad story of a family whose son is about to be the first black child in an elementary school--or maybe it is even sadder knowing that its young author died tragically at just 22 with so much talent left unfulfilled. (4.5)

Bontemps: Another atmospheric story set in New Orleans. A young man sets out to hear a famous blues singer in Storyville. (4)

Betts: A beautiful story about a disfigured girl's journey looking for a miracle cure. Along the way she meets two soldiers--one white one black--whom she bonds with. Exquisitely written in first person. Definitely one of the best stories in the book. (5)

Walker: A great ending to the book--a story of a black mother and her two, very different daughters. (5)… (mer)