Stacy Aumonier

Discover the captivating storytelling of Stacy Aumonier in The Collected Stories, a remarkable collection of his most celebrated short fiction. Known for his skillful blend of suspense, mystery, and subtle wit, Aumonier's stories delve into the complexities of human nature with precision and flair. Whether unraveling a chilling enigma or exploring the quiet moments of everyday life, Aumonier's writing draws readers into a world of intrigue and thought-provoking revelations. This anthology is a perfect introduction to the masterful craftsmanship of one of early 20th-century literature's hidden gems, offering a rich and immersive experience for all lovers of classic short stories.

Discover the captivating storytelling of Stacy Aumonier in The Collected Stories, a remarkable collection of his most celebrated short fiction. Known for his skillful blend of suspense, mystery, and subtle wit, Aumonier's stories delve into the complexities of human nature with precision and flair. Whether unraveling a chilling enigma or exploring the quiet moments of everyday life, Aumonier's writing draws readers into a world of intrigue and thought-provoking revelations. This anthology is a perfect introduction to the masterful craftsmanship of one of early 20th-century literature's hidden gems, offering a rich and immersive experience for all lovers of classic short stories.

Wonderful, forgotten, short stories by the man John Galsworthy described as 'one of the best short-story writers of all time.' Some are hilarious, some poignant; among them - long out of print until now - is the story James Hilton named his 'favourite short story.' Many are about World War I and its aftermath. All make compulsive reading.

Stacy Aumonier's comic stories are among the funniest ever written. His serious works observe the human condition with wit and elegance. All of them are page-turners. Alfred Hitchcock was a great fan, and adapted some of his stories for television. During his short writing career, from 1913 until his early death in 1928, Stacy Aumonier enjoyed an unrivalled reputation as a short-story writer. Through the best of his stories, Nobel prize winner John Galsworthy predicted he would 'outlive all the writers of his day.' James Hilton (author of 'Goodbye Mr Chips' and 'Lost Horizon') said of Aumonier: 'I think his very best works ought to be included in any anthology of the best short stories ever written.' He took his characters from every rung of society (sometimes in the one story, as in 'The Octave of Jealousy') and from every walk and every age of life: sons who have wasted their inheritance; criminals; farm labourers; a clergyman's sister; gold-diggers; an effective little tyrant (aged 4 or 5?) in 'The Song of Praise'; a divinely depicted music-hall comedian in the exquisite 'The Funny Man's Day'; the hapless fish-and-chips trader in the hilarious 'A Good Action.' His talent for putting flesh on those characters in a few words was remarkable, such as in his portrait of the daunting club habitue in 'Juxtapositions': 'In spite of his missing limb, St Clair Chasseloup was the kind of man who always looked as though he had just had a cold bath, done Swedish drill, and then passed through the hairdresser's on his way to your presence'; or of the house-party guests being assessed as the possible perpetrators of a crime in 'Freddie Finds Himself': 'They all looked well off, well fed, and slightly vacant, entirely innocent of anything except the knowledge of what is done or what is not done.' 'He gets values right,' said Galsworthy of him, 'and that is nearly everything,' adding: 'And how he puts his finger on weak spots!' Here is a selection of the most entertaining Aumonier stories, and it comes with a Guarantee: For a long journey, a sojourn laid up in bed, or just hard times, this book is a sure thing.

Pearson English Readers bring language learning to life through the joy of reading. Well-written stories entertain us, make us think, and keep our interest page after page. Pearson English Readers offer teenage and adult learners a huge range of titles, all featuring carefully graded language to make them accessible to learners of all abilities. Through the imagination of some of the world’s greatest authors, the English language comes to life in pages of our Readers. Students have the pleasure and satisfaction of reading these stories in English, and at the same time develop a broader vocabulary, greater comprehension and reading fluency, improved grammar, and greater confidence and ability to express themselves. Find out more at english.com/readers