The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story

“Freeman’s excellent introduction to this new anthology of modern short stories will be useful to readers who are unfamiliar with the format; for students of the short story, it’s a refreshing overview … a short story for any mood… . This anthology sets itself apart by providing an inclusive starting point for readers interested in discovering the power of the short story; it is golden for those who already recognize that power.” —Library Journal (starred)“A well-selected anthology of short fiction, ranging from long to flash, representing the last half-century … A fresh gathering that highlights the work of mostly well-known story writers through their lesser-known works.” —Kirkus

John Freeman is the editor of Freeman’s, a literary annual of new writing, and executive editor at Alfred A. Knopf. His books include How to Read a Novelist and Dictionary of the Undoing, as well as Tales of Two Americas, an anthology about income inequality in America, and Tales of Two Planets, an anthology of new writing about inequality and the climate crisis globally. He is also the author of two poetry collections, Maps and The Park. His work is translated into more than twenty languages, and has appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, and The New York Times. The former editor of Granta, he teaches writing at New York University. His newest anthology, The Penguin Book of the International Short Story, will be published by Penguin Press in April 2026.

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