Kate Chopin is a widely considered the forerunner to the feminist authors of the twentieth century. Focusing on themes of race and gender, her short stories largely center on life in rural Louisiana. In “The Story of an Hour,” Louise Mallard has just learned that her husband is dead—believed to have died during a train accident. Her family fears that the news will kill Louise, who suffers from a weak heart.

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Jack London was one of the first fiction writers to achieve worldwide fame. Though he is best remembered for his novels The Call of the Wild and White Fang, both set during the Klondike Gold Rush, his short stories are considered masterful. Here in “Brown Wolf,” a couple living on a homestead in Northern California who take in a stray sled dog from Alaska. A story about the relationship between man and animal, “Brown Wolf” is among London’s finest shorter works.

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Though known for his classic novels of adventure and coming of age, Mark Twain is equally esteemed for his short stories, which abound with the colorful characters and often comic antics readers have come to expect from his longer works. Included here is “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” a wild yarn involving a case of mistaken identity, a gambler who’d bet on anything, and an unusual frog named Daniel Webster. Originally published in the Saturday Press in 1865, the tale was immensely popular, and in 1867 an expanded version was published.

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A lesson on the power of vanity, “The Necklace” tells the story of Madame Mathilde Loisel and her husband. Mathilde always imagined herself as a socialite with beautiful gowns and wonderful jewels. Her husband, however, is a lowly clerk and the two have little money. Desperate to attend an important party, she borrows a friend’s diamond necklace to match the dress her husband bought for her. But when Mathilde loses the expensive jewels, she nearly destroys her life in an effort to pay back the debt.

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Considered one of the greatest short story writers of all time, Anton Chekhov heavily influenced the evolution of the modern short story. Most notably, he used a technique that would later be called “stream of consciousness,” in which he eschewed the traditional story structure and simply wrote as though he was thinking aloud. Written in that same vein, “The Lottery Ticket” is a story about money, luck, and relationships.

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The most enduring work by the Renaissance humanist Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron is a collection of one hundred stories about ten young noblemen and noblewomen who escape the plague by moving to a country villa outside the Italian city of Florence. Highly influential, numerous writers have borrowed from Boccaccio’s tales, including Edgar Allen Poe, John Keats, and George Eliot.

In “The Stone of Invisibility,” the nobleman Calandrino, as well as his friends Bruno and Buffalmacco, visit the coast in search of the magical bloodstone. Calandrino’s wife, however, spoils the fun …

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Edgar Allen Poe is seen today as one of the greatest practitioners of gothic and detective fiction that ever lived, and popular culture is replete with references to him. In “The Pit and the Pendulum,” one of his most famous short works, a condemned man is judged guilty by the Spanish Inquisition and sentenced to die. Locked away in a pitch-black cell, he soon discovers a pit in the center of the room, a watery grave at its base. Above him hangs a large, razor-sharp pendulum. As the man is slowly tortured, he must face either the pit or the pendulum.

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Charles Dickens created some of the world’s most memorable fictional characters. Widely regarded as the greatest writer of the Victorian period, his novels and short stories continue to be widely popular today. One of his lesser known works, “Prince Bull” is the story of a powerful prince named Bull; his lovely wife called Fair Freedom; and Tape, his wicked fairy godmother. Though written in fairy tale form, the story is a satirical commentary on Crimean War.

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Known as one of the foremost modernist novelists of the twentieth century, Virginia Woolf also wrote several shorter works. In “A Society,” one of her earlier short stories, a young woman receives a substantial inheritance from her father, on the condition that she reads all of the books in London Library. Distressed by the unsatisfactory quality of the literature itself, she shares her woes with a group of female friends. The women decide that they all must seek out knowledge for themselves, visiting some of England’s most iconic landmarks. A commentary on war, art, and the societal roles of men and women, “A Society” offers a brief but penetrating glimpse into Woolf’s literary genius.

Proceeds from sale of this title go to Reach Out and Read, an innovative literacy advocacy organization.

Considered one of the greatest short story writers of all time, Anton Chekhov heavily influenced the evolution of the modern short story. Most notably, he used a technique that would later be called “stream-of-consciousness,” in which he eschewed the traditional story structure and simply wrote as though he was thinking aloud. Written in that same vein, “The Death of a Government Clerk” is one of his best-known short stories. The story is about the fragile Ivan Dmitritch Tchervyakov who blows a small breach of etiquette far out of proportion.

Proceeds from sale of this title go to Reach Out and Read, an innovative literacy advocacy organization.

O. Henry was a prolific American short-story writer—a master of surprise endings—who wrote about the life of ordinary people in New York City. Here is “A Blackjack Bargainer,” the story of the drunken Yancey Goree, a washed-up lawyer who has lost his money, possessions, property, and self-respect as a result of playing poker. After settling a feud, however, he manages to redeem himself by trading places with an old rival.

Proceeds from sale of this title go to Reach Out and Read, an innovative literacy advocacy organization.

A master of terror and nightmarish visions, H. P. Lovecraft solidified his place at the top of the horror genre with this macabre supernatural tale.

When a geologist leads an expedition to the Antarctic plateau, his aim is to find rock and plant specimens from deep within the continent. The barren landscape offers no evidence of any life form—until they stumble upon the ruins of a lost civilization. Strange fossils of creatures unknown to man lead the team deeper, where they find carved stones dating back millions of years. But it is their discovery of the terrifying city of the Old Ones that leads them to an encounter with an untold menace.

Deliberately told and increasingly chilling, At the Mountains of Madness is a must-have for every fan of classic terror.

The author of “The Legend of Sleepy Hallow” and “Rip Van Winkle,” Washington Irving perfected the American short story. His stories were written in an approachable tone and intended to entertain rather than enlighten. 

Originally published in 1819, “The Spectre Bridegroom” is a ghost story about a baron and his daughter in historic Germany. The tale revolves around the daughter’s betrothal to Count Van Altenburg and the strange occurrences that lead up to the wedding. One of the few Irving stories set outside of the United States, “The Spectre Bridegroom” is often seen as a commentary on the differences between American and European society.

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Mary Louise is a young girl, very honest and wise beyond her years. This at times put her at odds with her classmates at school, but she is mature enough to not be bothered by their attitudes for the most part. Mary Louise lives with her mother and grandfather, with whom she was very close. She is shocked one day when, after her grandfather had an awkward encounter with a man on their walk, her grandfather sits her down and tells her that he and her mother must leave her for awhile. He makes arrangements for her to board at school and sneaks off with his daughter in the middle of the night. 

Mary Louise is upset and then astounded to find out that her grandfather is running from the law. As the other children at school find out the circumstances surrounding Mary Louise’s situation, they begin to relentlessly tease and trouble her. Mary Louise eventually runs away and finds a friend of her grandfather’s, but also discovers that the law is trailing her as well. 

A host of mysterious characters begin filtering into Mary Louise’s new life, and it is only a matter of time before Mary Louise finds out all these new people coming together is no coincidence. With the help of her friend Irene, Mary Louise finally unravels the mystery surrounding her family.

Prince Ring was a prince not as adventurous as most. But one day while out hunting, he finds a beautiful golden ring on the antlers of a deer that greatly attracts him and he finds himself on a much greater adventure than he ever intended. He gets separated from the rest of his hunting party, and discovers a woman who has a large barrel, another beautiful gold ring at the bottom. While inspecting it, the woman pushes Prince Ring into the barrel and tosses him into the sea.

Prince Ring eventually washes up on an island, where he encounters an exceedingly kind Giant and his wife. When Prince Ring takes his leave, he brings with him a giant dog and the promise to inherit all that the Giant and his wife own upon their death. Prince Ring and his dog, Snati-Snati, then go on more adventures together with Snati as their guide.