Many of the Nineteenth Century writers we now consider classic novelists were regularly producing short fiction. We’ll discuss how these suit reading tastes today, as well as considering a little of the recent history of short fiction.

The earliest of the four was published in 1857, the latest in 1896. Is their main value as evidence for social history?

We’ll also aim to look at the writing. Are the voices familiar? Do they present us with familiar themes on a smaller scale? We’ll speculate on why authors write short fiction.

Crucially, is short fiction satisfying to read? In his introduction to the anthology I’ve drawn these from, Philip Hensher says ‘The British short story is probably the richest, most varied and most historically extensive national tradition anywhere in the world.’ That’s a big claim. Do these four stories uphold that? Do they lead you to think you’d like to read more? If not yet, perhaps after we’ve discussed them…

Please read in advance, Mrs Badgery, by Wilkie Collins, Mrs Lirriper’s Lodgings,by Charles Dickens, The Three Strangers, by Thomas Hardy & The Library Window, by Margaret Oliphant for discussion on the day.