Title: Collier's Greatest Short Stories Complete 6-Volume Set (1940/1953 Edition)
This Set Includes: A comprehensive collection of classic short fiction from renowned American and international authors, published by P.F. Collier & Son. The set features distinctive green cloth binding with navy panel detailing.
Individual Books Included:
- Volume I - American (Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Frank R. Stockton, Fitz-James O'Brien, Edward Everett Hale, and others)
- Volume II - American (Stephen Crane and other prominent American authors)
- Volume III - American (O. Henry, Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Joel Chandler Harris, Booth Tarkington, and others)
- Volume IV - Foreign (International authors including Guy de Maupassant, Arthur Conan Doyle, and others)
- Volume V - Foreign (Alexander Pushkin, Ivan Turgenev, Anton Chekhov, Émile Zola, and other European masters)
- Volume VI - Foreign (Robert Louis Stevenson, H.G. Wells, Émile Gaboriau, Giovanni Verga, Maxim Gorky, and others)
Perfect For: Adult literature enthusiasts, classic fiction collectors, students of American and world literature, home libraries seeking elegant vintage book sets, and readers who appreciate golden age short fiction from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Why These Editions Matter: This midcentury anthology represents P.F. Collier & Son's prestigious literary collection series, first published in 1915 and reissued through the 1950s. The set thoughtfully divides American and foreign authors across six volumes, offering readers access to some of the most celebrated short fiction of the era. These editions feature works that shaped the development of the modern short story form and include many pieces that remain widely studied and anthologized today. The attractive green and navy binding makes this set both a literary treasure and a handsome addition to any bookshelf.
Condition Details: This set shows minor wear around the edges of the spines and covers. No writing, torn or missing pages noted. There are two library stamps noted on the top foredges of volumes 5 and 6. Those volumes also include a library sticker on the back, inside cover. No writing, torn or missing pages noted. Each volume is tightly bound with no damage to the hinges.
Educational Value: An exceptional resource for understanding the evolution of the short story genre during its golden age. The American volumes showcase the development of distinctly American literary voices from Washington Irving through the early 20th century, while the foreign volumes provide exposure to the masters of European and Russian literature. Perfect for comparative literature studies, this collection offers readers the opportunity to explore diverse narrative styles, themes, and cultural perspectives from authors who defined their national literary traditions. The variety of stories—from mystery and adventure to social commentary and psychological realism—makes this an invaluable anthology for serious readers and students of literature.
