Next Thursday, January 9th, the Short Story Group will discuss two great American writers: O. Henry and Truman Capote.

O. Henry published most of his short stories at the beginning of the nineteenth century. His main inspiration were the ordinary people he watched in New York City hotels and streets. The focus of the discussion will be The Gift of The Magi. Still, others of his short stories such as The Cop and the Anthem, The Last Leaf, and The Furnished Room are classics of American Literature.

Truman Capote was mostly known by his novels: In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. But, he also wrote three short stories in the fifties: Miriam, the outstanding Shut a Final Door, and the short story that will be discussed at the meeting, A Christmas Memory, .

All are welcome to join the discussions. The meeting will start at 3:00 p.m. at the Saint Michaels Library.

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Short on time, but love to read? You might consider joining the St. Michaels Short Story Group. The Group, who met for the first time in November, is tailored for readers and writers interested in discussing the art of great authors and is focused on short stories, as they do not represent a significant investment of time and can be read on one sitting.

Last month the Group discussed The Cask of Amontillado, considered by many as the perfect short story. Published by E. A. Poe in 1846, the story is structured so that no words are wasted, and each paragraph contributes to the development and unity of the plot. Now, the Group’s attention will be focused on reading and ‘savoring’ two short stories published approximately at the same time in Russia by Nikolay Gogol, one of the most relevant Russian writers of the nineteenth century: The Nose (1836), and The Overcoat (1842).

The Nose, is about a man who, after losing his nose, meets it walking in the streets. It is approximately 11 pages and is probably one of the first stories to venture into the absurd.

The second story, The Overcoat, is around 13 pages and is quite deeper in its message. It is a criticism of bureaucracy, a common element of Gogol’s works, and provokes the reader into a reflection about hopes and frustrations of common men.

Both stories are available for free at the Project Gutenberg site.

The next discussion will take place on December 5th at 3:30, at the St. Michaels Library. Meetings are free and typically run one hour. Two additional meetings are scheduled for January.

All friends of the Talbot Spy are welcome to attend.

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