What are some of the best 19th century short stories?

One of the best is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's a heartwarming story about a young couple who sacrifice their most precious possessions to buy gifts for each other. Another great one is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, which is a chilling tale that makes you question society's traditions. Also, 'A Clean, Well - Lighted Place' by Ernest Hemingway is notable for its sparse yet powerful writing style.

There are many excellent American short stories of the 20th century. The following are some of the famous works: 1 The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger A Long Way Gone by O Henry The Four Generations Under One roof by Wes Anderson Honor by Wes Anderson 6 The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald A Long Way Gone by O Henry 8 One Hundred Years of Solitude by Garcia Márquez The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 11 The Four Generations Together by Wes Anderson A Long Way Gone by O Henry The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger The Black Cat by O Henry Once Upon a Time in America by Michael Shaara A Long Way Gone by O Henry Honor by Wes Anderson The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger This is just a part of it, there are many other excellent short stories.

One of the best is 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It's a short yet powerful novel that delves into themes of wealth, love, and the American Dream. The story is set in the Jazz Age and follows the mysterious Jay Gatsby and his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan.

The 19th and 20th century short stories were often a reflection of the times. In the 19th century, for example, short stories in America might focus on the frontier experience or the growth of cities. In the 20th century, with two world wars, stories were influenced by the trauma and changes brought about by these events. Many authors used short stories as a way to quickly capture the essence of the era.

They often had simple plots. For example, many focused on a single event or a brief period in a character's life.

One of the well - known 18th - century short stories is 'The Rape of the Lock' by Alexander Pope. It's a mock - epic that humorously depicts the social scene of the time, focusing on a petty quarrel over a lock of hair. Another is 'The Devil and Tom Walker' by Washington Irving. It tells the story of a man who makes a deal with the devil. And then there's 'The Spectre - Bridegroom' by Washington Irving as well, which is a spooky and engaging short story.

Well, 'A Rose for Emily' by William Faulkner is a great 20th century short story. It tells the story of a reclusive woman in the South. Also, 'Hills Like White Elephants' by Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway's sparse style really shines in this story about a couple having a tense conversation. There are many more, like Kafka's 'The Metamorphosis' which is about a man who wakes up transformed into a giant insect.

Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'Young Goodman Brown' is also a significant 19th - century short story. It explores themes of faith, sin, and the nature of humanity. The story follows Goodman Brown as he ventures into the forest one night and has a series of disturbing encounters that make him question the goodness of his community and his own faith. Additionally, Guy de Maupassant's 'The Necklace' is well - known. It's about a woman who borrows a diamond necklace to attend a high - society event, loses it, and spends years in poverty trying to replace it, only to find out at the end that the original necklace was a fake.

Well, 'The Canterville Ghost' by Oscar Wilde is a great 19th - century ghost story. It humorously depicts the encounter between an American family and a British ghost in an old manor. The ghost tries to scare the family but fails in the most comical ways. Also, 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs is a very chilling story. A family comes into possession of a magical monkey's paw that can grant wishes, but with horrible and unforeseen consequences that are quite ghostly in nature.

Charles Dickens wrote some great short stories in the 19th century. His story 'The Signal - Man' is quite good. And then there's Anton Chekhov, whose short stories, like 'Gooseberries', are very much loved for their insights into human nature.