Amazing writer, great deal This is short but packed with excellent short stories by Crane. I had to buy this for an english class but I've read it twice since then just because its so good. The first story takes place in Brooklyn and it seems very authentic even today. This is one of my favorite authors and I guess there's a reason they have you read him in school - to get you into reading!
New York Matters Crane has a delightfully light style of writing that can take the deepest and most sorrowful of situations, and somehow bring them light. His, "Maggie: A Girl of the Streets," is a wonderful depiction of life for a 19th century girl in New York. "The Open Boat" puts you on the ship; you can naturally feel the narration and flow with him as he crashes against the waves. A wonderful read for any interested in American or New York literature.
Hard stories for hard times Stephen Crane died at the early age of 29, but in his writing he shows what he'd come through in life. I think his style is mature and hardened up, due to a life spent in difficult times. In "The Blue Hotel", he depicts a brief, brutal and enigmatic moment in the lives of several residents and migrants in Nebraska, a stupid and cruel fight in the midst of a snow blizzard.
The rest of the stories have to do with Civil War episodes and other moments in the US history. My favorite tale is the one that's on the cover of the book: the Open Boat. It is masterfully told, the story is tense, sad and exciting. The reader can feel the up and down movement of the boat, the cold wetness of the clothes, the seasickness the characters suffer, the desolation at every failure to approach the coast, the relationship between the characters, etc. It is a pity that Crane died so young, since in these short stories he shows himself as a talented, gifted and mature writer.
Better Than "The Red Badge of Courage" Crane proves to be an early American master of the short story. I found "Courage" to be plodding and obvious, but Crane's short stories rescue his literary reputation for me.
The stories are well paced with vivid characters and little epiphany by story's end.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
