Update on Short Story Discussion Group

More than twenty people have expressed an interest in joining the short story discussion group that I proposed last week, so it’s definitely a go. I’m really looking forward to exploring a range of classic short stories in such excellent company.

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) has been credited with revolutionizing the form and thereby ushering in the golden age of the modern short story. William Boyd goes so far as to say: “Perhaps all short stories written after Chekhov are in one way or another in his debt.” So “The Lady With the Dog”, regarded by many as Chekhov’s best story, seems a good starting point. We’ll begin our discussion with it on August 8, 2006.

I’m setting up a dedicated blog for the group and I’ll post a link to it here shortly. In the meantime, I’ll consult via e-mail with those that have expressed an interest in participating about how we’ll organize our discussion and about what other stories we’ll include on our reading list. (If you’d like to be consulted on these questions but haven’t made your e-mail address available, please send it to me.) Of course, it’s not too late to join in this venture. Anyone who wishes to do so is welcome to read along with us and chime in on our discussion at any time.