Strongly emphasizing the works of major writers such as Hawthorne, Poe, James, Irving, Twain, and Faulkner, this latest edition of a remarkably successful text ranges from the traditional to the modern experimental fictions of Barth, Barthelme, and Coover. Edited by one of the most prominent experts in the field, the new edition addresses the needs of a changing readership by presenting more works by women, writers of color, and contemporary authors, including Kate Chopin, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Zora Neale Hurston, Robert Stone, Raymond Carver, Alice Walker, Leslie Marmon Silko, and Louise Erdrich. Preceding each section is an introductory essay discussing individual works and the development of the genre, and biographical and bibliographical notes for each author are also provided, making this the definitive source for exploring the full range of American contributions to the short story.