The Greatest American Short Stories | Embassy Books

Oh, for the years I have not lived, but only dreamed of living.” – Nathaniel Hawthorne

Two men kidnap a wealthy man’s son and hold him for ransom, but soon discover they got more than they bargained for (The Ransom of Red Chief). A plantation and slave owner reflects on his life just before he is to be hanged from a bridge (An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge). A surveyor tries to uncover the mystery behind disturbing events taking place in a small community, stemming from when a meteorite crashed into the nearby area (The Colour Out of Space).

This curated selection contains ten of the greatest American short stories ever written, including famous stories such as Herman Melville’s Bartleby, the Scrivener, as well as lesser-known ones like Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Young Goodman Brown. Featuring a wide variety of authors including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jack London, and Edgar Allan Poe, this collection is sure to pique the interest of any reader.