Classic Short Stories and Novellas

If you’re looking for classic literature that won’t take up too much of your time, short stories and novellas are a great option. Here are a few underrated classics that you might enjoy:

• The Turn of the Screw by Henry James: This 1898 horror novella features an unnamed governess who’s hired to care for Miles and Flora, a pair of young orphans. But things quickly begin going wrong – and it’s questionable how much the children are to blame. At just 96 pages, this is a quick and haunting read.
• The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: This 1892 short story is a feminist classic. The narrator, who is struggling with postpartum depression, is confined to a room with yellow wallpaper by her doctor husband. As she becomes more and more obsessed with the wallpaper, her mental state deteriorates. At just 6,000 words, this story packs a powerful punch.
• Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville: This 1853 novella tells the story of a Wall Street lawyer who hires a new copyist, Bartleby. At first, Bartleby is a diligent worker – but then he begins refusing to do any work at all, simply saying “I would prefer not to.” This story is a meditation on the dehumanizing effects of office work, and at just 64 pages, it’s a quick read.
• The Dead by James Joyce: This 1914 short story is the final piece in Joyce’s collection Dubliners. It takes place at a Christmas party in Dublin, and follows the thoughts and feelings of Gabriel Conroy as he comes to a realization about his own life. At just 15,000 words, this story is a masterpiece of modernist literature.
• The Awakening by Kate Chopin: This 1899 novella tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a woman who is unhappy with her life as a wife and mother. As she begins to explore her own desires and sexuality, she realizes that she can never go back to the life she had before. At just 130 pages, this is a powerful and moving work of feminist literature.

These are just a few examples of the many classic short stories and novellas that are out there waiting to be discovered. Don’t be afraid to dive in and explore – you might just find your new favorite author.