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Short Stories and Essays (from Literature and Life): Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

Short Stories and Essays (from Literature and Life): author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

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AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

Short Stories and Essays (from Literature and Life) is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Howells, William Dean (1837–1920).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"Short Stories and Essays (from Literature and Life)" by William Dean Howells is a collection of narratives exploring various facets of life, culture, and society, likely penned in the late 19th century. The essays and stories delve into social observations, personal reflections, and portrayals of everyday life, drawing on the realities of human experience as Howells presents a tapestry of American life through his adept literary lens. The opening portion introduces the essay "Worries of a Winter Walk," where the narrator recounts a cold winter morning in a bustling tenement area. Through vivid imagery, he describes the stark contrast of a lonely, frigid street against the warmth of human bustle usually present. The narrator encounters a small child eagerly fetching coal and is struck by her practicality and resilience, highlighting the harsh realities faced by children of the working class. As he reflects on this scene, he grapples with the moral complexity of using real-life situations as material for fiction, leading to deeper questions of empathy and responsibility toward those in need. This introspective exploration sets the tone for the collection, inviting readers to engage thoughtfully with the lives and struggles depicted within.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: Short Stories and Essays (from Literature and Life)
  • Author credits: Howells, William Dean (1837–1920)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • American fiction -- History and criticism
  • Criticism
  • Fiction -- History and criticism

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: American Literature
  • Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches
  • Category: Short Stories

Read this edition

View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.

Source notes

Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.

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