The American literary tradition has a glowing and glittering reputation. From its transatlantic roots it has absorbed the sons and daughters of other cultures, other lands and made them part of her own.

America prides itself on liberty, on justice for all and, if you are a wealthy white man, that is essentially true. Sadly, many other segments of society find it difficult to feel part of this endeavour. That prejudice has helped shape the borders of those two endless questions about any anthology. Why that story? Why that Author?

We made some hard choices. Our literary parade starts with Uriah Derrick D’Arcy, about whom little can be verified. From here leviathans appear; Hawthorne, Poe, Melville, Twain but also note how many women, and not just Stowe, Alcott and Chopin. Their status as writers is often neglected or undervalued but their stories, their angles of approach to writing are both expertly crafted and refreshing.

Another stain on the social and cultural fabric of American has been that of Race. Black people were harshly treated. The Civil War may have opened the door but little changed. The majority of the stories included here written by black authors are disturbing in the wrongs they were accused of, and the burdens they were forced to carry. This eye-opening literature enables us to once more take stock and applaud and bring some glimmers of recognition to their struggles and their art.

There are some authors, liberally sprinkled throughout, who may previously have escaped your attention. Enjoy them. Adore them. These forgotten voices are fine examples both of their craft, their art, and their take on society as it was then.

In the period we cover from around the time of the American Revolution up until the catastrophe of World War 2, the printing press was creating a market to share words. With industrialization and a large swathe of people eager to be distracted from hard working lives, a plethora of magazines and periodicals shot up, all clamoring for works to publish, to introduce new ideas and explain how some of us view ourselves and each other. Some of these authors were only published that way, one story wonders—hitched to the fading star of a disposable periodical.

Within these stories you will also find very occasional examples of historical prejudice. A few words here and there which in today’s world some may find inappropriate or even offensive. It is not our intention to make anyone uncomfortable but to show that the world in order to change must reconcile itself to the actual truth rather than put it out of sight. Context is everything. The author’s words are set, our reaction to them encourages our change.

Within this melting pot of styles, genres and wordplay one fact stands out: The American short story Literary tradition has a strong, vibrant and almost inclusive history, if you know where to look. Which is here.