The Best American Humorous Short Stories by H. C. Bunner et al. I have tried to keep a certain unity of aim and impression in selecting these stories. In the first place I determined that the pieces of brief fiction which I included must first of all be not merely good stories, but good short stories. I put myself in the position of one who was about to select the best short stories in the whole range of American literature, but who, just before he started to do this, was notified that he must refrain from selecting any of the best American short stories that did not contain the element of humor to a marked degree. But I have kept in mind the wide boundaries of the term humor, and also the fact that the humorous standard should be kept second--although a close second--to the short story standard. (Edited by Alexander Jessup.) We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.

Excerpt from The Best American Humorous Short Stories The Nice People, by Henry Cuyler Bunner, is republished from his volume, Short Sixes, by permission Of its publish ers, Charles Scribner's Sons. The buller-podington Com pact, by Frank Richard Stockton, is from his volume, A field and Afloat, and is republished by permission Of Gnarles Scribner's Sons. Colonel Starbottle for the Plaintifi, by Bret Harte, is from the collection of his stories entitled Openings in the Old Trail, and is republished by permission of the Houghton Mifflin Company, the authorized publishers of Bret Harte's complete works. The Duplicity of Hargraves, by 0. Henry, is from his volume, Sixes and Sevens, and is republished by permission Of its publishers, Doubleday, Page co. These stories are fully protected by copyrignt, and should not be republished except by permission of the pub lishers mentioned. Thanks are due Mrs. Grace macgowan Cooke for permission to use her story, A Call, republished here from Harper's Magazine; Wells Hastings, for permission to reprint his story, Gideon, from The Century Magazine; and George Randolph Chester, for permission to include Bargain Day at Tutt House, from M cclure's Magazine. I would also thank the heirs Of the late lamented Colonel William J. Lanpton for permission to use his story, How the Widow Won the Deacon, from Harper's Bazaar. These stories are all copyrighted, and cannot be republished except by authorization Of their authors or heirs. The editor regrets that their publishers have seen fit to refuse him per mission to include George W. Cable's story, Posson and Irvin S. Cobb's story, The Smart Aleck. He also regrets he was unable to Obtain a copy of Joseph C. Duport's story, The Wedding at Timber Hollow, in time for inclusion, to which its merits - as he remembers them - certainly entitle it. Mr. Duport, in addition to his literary activities, has started an interesting back to Nature experiment at Westfield, Massachusetts. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

From the Editior: This volume does not aim to contain all ?the best American humorous short stories?; there are many other stories equally as good, I suppose, in much the same vein, scattered through the range of American literature. I have tried to keep a certain unity of aim and impression in selecting these stories. In the first place I determined that the pieces of brief fiction which I included must first of all be not merely good stories, but good short stories. I put myself in the position of one who was about to select the best short stories in the whole range of American literature, but who, just before he started to do this, was notified that he must refrain from selecting any of the best American short stories that did not contain the element of humor to a marked degree. But I have kept in mind the wide boundaries of the term humor, and also the fact that the humorous standard should be kept second?although a close second?to the short story standard. In view of the necessary limitations as to the volume?s size, I could not hope to represent all periods of American literature adequately, nor was this necessary in order to give examples of the best that has been done in the short story in a humorous vein in American literature. Probably all types of the short story of humor are included here, at any rate. Not only copyright restrictions but in a measure my own opinion have combined to exclude anything by Joel Chandler Harris?Uncle Remus?from the collection. Harris is primarily?in his best work?a humorist, and only secondarily a short story writer. As a humorist he is of the first rank; as a writer of short stories his place is hardly so high. His humor is not mere funniness and diversion; he is a humorist in the fundamental and large sense, as are Cervantes, Rabelais, and Mark Twain.

The Best American Humorous Short Stories by H. C. Bunner The Best American Humorous Short Stories is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by H. C. (Henry Cuyler) Bunner is in the English language, and may not include graphics or images from the original edition. If you enjoy the works of H. C. (Henry Cuyler) Bunner then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.

Prepare to be entertained with a collection of laughter-inducing tales in "The Best American Humorous Short Stories," curated by H. C. Bunner and others. Dive into a world where wit, satire, and absurdity reign supreme, offering a delightful escape from the ordinary. As you journey through these uproarious stories, you'll encounter a diverse cast of characters and scenarios guaranteed to tickle your funny bone. But amidst the hilarity, a question lingers: What makes a story truly humorous, and why do we find certain situations so irresistibly funny? Experience the genius of Bunner and his contemporaries as they masterfully craft tales that elicit chuckles and belly laughs alike. Each story is a testament to the enduring appeal of humor and its ability to transcend time and culture. But beyond the laughter lies a deeper truth: In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, humor serves as a coping mechanism, offering solace and perspective in the face of life's absurdities. Get ready to bust a gut with the side-splitting humor of "The Best American Humorous Short Stories." Bunner and his collaborators invite you on a rollercoaster ride of hilarity, where every twist and turn leaves you gasping for breath. Indulge in the richness of comedic storytelling as you explore the nuances of wit, irony, and satire. Through these timeless tales, you'll discover the universal appeal of humor as a reflection of the human experience. Are you prepared to embark on a journey of laughter and merriment? Grab your copy of "The Best American Humorous Short Stories" now and join the ranks of those who know that sometimes, the best medicine is a good laugh. Don't miss your chance to experience the joy of these classic tales. Purchase your copy today and discover why laughter truly is the best medicine. ```

Although every literary tradition has its own rich vein of humor writing, there's something about American humor that sets it apart from the pack in terms of accessibility and lack of pretension. This volume includes writings from such luminaries of the genre as Mark Twain, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Edgar Allen Poe, and the brevity of most of the collected pieces makes it easy to take a short reading break whenever you could use a good laugh.

Featuring James Thurber's "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," the basis of the 2013 motion picture, this anthology of 30 entertaining tales includes works by Benjamin Franklin, Harriet Beecher Stowe, O. Henry, Mark Twain, Dorothy Parker, Langston Hughes, and others.