Selection of American and British Short Stories

Author: Peng Xiaohua / Pu Duren (editors)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: This series of learning books is roughly categorized by literary genre, comprising seven titles: Selected Readings in English and American Poetry, Selected Readings in English and American Short Stories, Selected Readings in English and American Novels, Selected Readings in English and American Drama, Selected Readings in English and American Essays, Selected Readings in English and American Speeches, and Selected Readings in English and American Literary Theory. The reason each book is titled "Selected Readings" is that this aligns better with the practical needs of Chinese English readers, is more readily accepted by English teachers and students, and holds greater value in both writing and learning. The selection criteria for this series prioritize readability, practicality, representativeness, and classicism, with a primary target audience of college English teachers and students while also catering to general English enthusiasts. Each selected text includes five components: author bio, original text, annotations, analysis, and discussion questions. Among these, the discussion questions are particularly important because "learning without reflection yields nothing." As Confucius said, "Learning without reflection is lost." Therefore, several thought-provoking questions related to the original text are provided after each entry. Although the number of questions is limited and their space is minimal, their absence in most domestic "Selected Readings" books makes them a distinctive feature of this learning series. To facilitate self-study and compare the charm of English and Chinese languages, translated poems are appended after the poetry selections. These translations are primarily by renowned domestic scholars, carefully chosen as the best among various versions.