"Gal Young Un" by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1932, by the author of The Yearling)

Winner of the 1933 O Henry Prize for Best American Short Story

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1896 to 1953, USA) won the Pulitzer Prize in 1939 for her novel set in rural northern Florida, The Yearling.  "Gal Young Un" was her first widely successful work of fiction.  It won the O Henry Prize for best short story in 1933 and was originally published in Harper's Magazine.  This was my first contact with Rawlings, other than seeing the movie based on her famous novel.  I really liked this story and I came close to cheering at the great everybody will love it ending of the story where a much abused country woman rises up and turns the tables on her oppressive cheating husband.  I guess this story falls in the category of Southern Gothic. 

The story is set in rural northern Florida, where Rawlings lived.  We meet an unmarried woman living alone on some land she inherited.  A big talking man begins to court her.  Against all advise the very lonely woman marries him.  He sets up a big " moonshine" (alcohol was illegal in the U S A in 1933) still and begins making good money.  He takes all the money the woman had from in inheritance and bought himself a big beautiful car.  Whenever the woman complains he threatens to leave her and she backs down.  When he brings hope a cheap looking young girl and tells his wife she will be staying at the house and has her wait on the girl he heart begins to break.  I won't spoil the absolutely great close of this story.

I read this story in this very interesting anthology (which I received free from the publisher) 

I hope to read The Pultizer this year.

Mel u