What are some of the greatest short novels?

One of the world's greatest short novels is 'The Metamorphosis' by Franz Kafka. It tells the story of Gregor Samsa who wakes up one day transformed into a giant insect. Another is 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens, which is a classic tale of redemption during the Christmas season. Also, 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson is great. It's a disturbing story about a small town's annual lottery with a shocking ending.

One characteristic is their ability to tell a complete story in a concise way. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the whole plot of the couple's selfless love is told in just a few pages. Another is strong character development. In 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find', the grandmother is a very vivid character with her own beliefs and flaws. Also, they often have a deep theme. Like in 'The Yellow Wallpaper', it delves into the issue of female oppression and mental health.

Some of the greatest short stories include 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a chilling story that reveals the dark side of human nature and blind obedience to tradition. Then there's 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe, a classic horror short story that delves into the mind of a deranged narrator. Also, 'Hills Like White Elephants' by Ernest Hemingway is great as it conveys so much through its sparse dialogue about a difficult relationship.

Well, among the greatest short novels, there's 'Bartleby, the Scrivener' by Herman Melville. This story is really thought - provoking as it shows the alienation of Bartleby in the workplace. Then, 'Hills Like White Elephants' by Ernest Hemingway is also notable. Hemingway's minimalist style in this short story makes it a classic. It's about a couple having a conversation that implies a lot about their relationship and a difficult decision. Also, 'The Metamorphosis' by Franz Kafka is a masterpiece. Gregor Samsa's transformation into an insect is a symbol of many things like alienation and the human condition.

One of the greatest is 'The Lady with the Dog' by Anton Chekhov. It beautifully portrays an extramarital affair with great psychological depth. Another is 'The Nose' by Nikolai Gogol, a surreal story about a man whose nose takes on a life of its own. And 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich' by Leo Tolstoy, which is a profound exploration of a man facing his mortality.

One of the great short ghost stories is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is driven mad by the old man's 'vulture - like' eye and ends up murdering him, only to be haunted by the sound of the dead man's heart.

One of the greatest is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a chilling story that shows how blindly following tradition can lead to horror. The unexpected ending makes it a classic.

One of the greatest is 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens. It tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly man who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. These ghosts show him his past, present, and future, leading him to a transformation where he becomes a kind and generous person. Another great one could be 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's about a young couple who are very poor but still sacrifice their most precious possessions to buy gifts for each other at Christmas.

Another great one is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs. It shows how a simple wish - granting talisman can bring about great horror. A family's wishes lead to unexpected and tragic consequences, making it a classic in horror short stories.

There's 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. This story is quite disturbing as it shows how a small town blindly follows a cruel tradition. And then there's 'Young Goodman Brown' by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It delves into the Puritanical beliefs and the idea of hidden sin in the human heart.