The O. Henry Prize Stories 2007
by Laura Furman, editor
Published by Anchor Books
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Reviewed by Cerri Ellis
Since 1919, the O. Henry Prize has meant excellence in literary short fiction. To win an O. Henry is the pinnacle achievement in a short story author's life. Named after William Sydney Porter (1862-1910), better known to readers as O. Henry, the prize was conceived in 1918 by his friends, members of the elite Twilight Club, later renamed the Society of Arts and Letters, in order to honor him and strengthen the art of the short story.
The O. Henry Prize Stories for 2007 are some of the best literary fiction in North America. These authors convey more emotion in a single paragraph than many authors do in an entire book. Take for example,
-- The Scent of Cinnamon by Charles Lambert. The author explores the themes of loneliness and the abandonment of dreams even while embracing them.
-- In a Bear's Eye by Yannick Murphy, grief, loss and acceptance are explored in a style made all the more heart wrenching by its simplicity.
-- In The Gift of Years by Vu Tran, a father returns from battle only to see the unsettling changes the war and his own absence wrought on his family. But with distance also comes insight, however unwelcome.
The selected stories encapsulate the human experience in both shocking and poignant terms. Clever and deft at their craft, the authors of these stories exemplify the absolute best in the written word.
Armchair Interviews says: Lucky are those who love outstanding short stories!
Author's Web site: http://www.OHenryPrizeStories.com