Can you recommend some famous modern short stories?

Sure. 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe, though not strictly modern but still highly influential in the horror genre, has been a source of inspiration for modern horror short stories. In modern times, 'The Girl with All the Gifts' by M. R. Carey is quite famous. It combines horror with a post - apocalyptic setting and a unique take on the zombie - like creatures. Also, 'The Thing on the Doorstep' by H. P. Lovecraft, an oldie but a goodie that has influenced modern horror, features his signature Lovecraftian horror elements.

Sure. One of the well - known works is 'The Snows of Kilimanjaro' by Ernest Hemingway. Although he was American, he had a great influence on modern British literature short stories as well. Another is 'The Garden Party' by Katherine Mansfield. It beautifully portrays the class differences and social consciousness in British society. Also, 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens is a classic short story that has been widely loved, with its themes of redemption and the spirit of Christmas.

Sure. 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry is a very famous short story. It tells the story of a young couple who are very poor but still want to give each other special Christmas gifts. Another one is 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant. It's about a woman who borrows a diamond necklace to attend a party, only to lose it and spend years in poverty trying to replace it.

Sure. 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry is very famous. It tells the story of a young couple who sacrifice their most precious possessions to buy gifts for each other. Another one is 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant, which shows the vanity and the consequences of false pride. And 'A Sound of Thunder' by Ray Bradbury is also well - known, exploring the idea of time travel and the butterfly effect.

Sure. 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry is a great one. It tells the story of a young couple who are very poor but sacrifice their most precious possessions to buy gifts for each other. Another is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a disturbing story about a small town's annual lottery which has a very unexpected and cruel outcome. And 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' by Flannery O'Connor is also famous, exploring themes of morality and grace.

One well - known 1948 short story could be 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a disturbing story that reveals the dark side of human nature through a seemingly ordinary village lottery.

Alice Munro is another famous writer of modern short stories. She has a remarkable ability to portray the complex inner lives of her characters, often women, in small - town settings. Her stories are rich in detail and emotion. For example, in her story 'Runaway', she delves deep into the relationship between a woman and her husband and her own desires for freedom. She has won the Nobel Prize in Literature for her contributions to the short story form.

Ernest Hemingway is a well - known author of short modern stories. His stories are known for their spare prose and strong male characters. For example, 'The Snows of Kilimanjaro' is a great piece that delves into themes of regret and mortality.

Raymond Carver is a significant figure in modern short stories. His works, like 'Cathedral', are characterized by their simplicity and the exploration of ordinary people's lives. He has a way of making the mundane seem profound. And Alice Munro is highly regarded. Her short stories often focus on the lives of women and family relationships, with a great sense of place and time.

One famous short fantasy story is 'The Little Mermaid' by Hans Christian Andersen. It tells the story of a mermaid who falls in love with a human prince and makes sacrifices for that love. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs, which is a dark and cautionary tale about a magical paw that grants wishes with unforeseen and often tragic consequences. And 'The Happy Prince' by Oscar Wilde is also well - known. It's about a statue of a prince and a little swallow who help the poor in the city.