Short Stories, Irish literature, Classics, Modern Fiction, Contemporary Literary Fiction, The Japanese Novel, Post Colonial Asian Fiction, The Legacy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and quality Historical Novels are Among my Interests








Saturday, October 26, 2013

Mavis Gallant's first published short story - "Madeline's Birthday" in The New Yorker, September 1, 1951




Two days ago I read my very first short story by Mavis Gallant (Canada, 1922), "Rue de Lille".  Yesterday I downloaded a sample of Early and Uncollected Stories of Mavis Gallant edited and introduced by Jhumpa Lahari.  Lahari's introduction was totally illuminating and her deep appreciation of the stories of Ms. Gallant shines through.  Gallant has published about 100 stories in The New Yorker.  "Madeline's Birthday", September 1, 1951 was the very first published story of Gallant. It is kindly included in the sample edition.  Lahari tells us it that it contains the basic elements that would emerge in Gallant's  work over the next five decades.   It is the story of the events on Madeline's seventeenth birthday.  I am not inclined here to tell the plot.  It is about half-functioning families, loneliness under comfortable conditions, people on their own before they are ready.  

I have access to two more of her stories and will read them soon.  I can see myself reading a lot of her work.

Please share your experience with Mavis Gallant with us.


2 comments:

chillcat said...

Mel I am very intrigued by Mavis Gallant whom I have not read. Which book would you recommend? Tried to download Rue di Lille but feel I would rather have a book in my hands. Very old-fashioned of me! Best, Catherine

Mel u said...

chill cat-I have so far just read two of her short stories. I for sure want to read more.