Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. They can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere.

In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens’ across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author?

The theme itself will form the boundaries for our stories which range from well-known classics, newly told, to stories that modern times have overlooked but perfectly exemplify the theme. Throughout the volume our authors whether of instant recognition or new to you are all leviathans of literature.

Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something.

The plains of the American Mid-West are home to some very fine exponents of the literary craft. Throughout this vast landscape stories seem to be everywhere offering their experiences as works just awaiting the final touches and flourishes of these famed authors. They deliver in very talented ways.

1 - The Top 10 - US Authors of the Mid-West - An Introduction

2 - Bernice Bobs Her Hair by F Scott Fitzgerald

3 - The Defense of Strikerville by Damon Runyon

4 - Desiree's Baby by Kate Chopin

5 - Speed by Sinclair Lewis

6 - A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell

7 - The Scapegoat by Paul Laurence Dunbar

8 - An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce

9 - White Bread by Zona Gale

10 - Hands by Sherwood Anderson

11 - Ariel's Triumph by Booth Tarkington