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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780374126391
ISBN: 0374126399
Label: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 400
Publication Date: October 24, 1997
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Sales Rank: 801531
Studio: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Related Items:
Editorial Review:
Product Description:
New York Times Notable Book of the Year
Publishers Weekly Best Book of 1997
With an Introduction by Robert Giroux, The Complete Stories of Bernard Malamud is 'an essential American book,' Richard Stern declared in the Chicago Tribune when the collection was published in hardcover. His praise was echoed by other reviewers and by readers, who embraced the book as they might a displaced person in one of Malamud's stories, now returned to us, complete and fulfilled and recognized at last. The volume gathers together fifty-five stories, from 'Armistice' (1940) to 'Alma Redeemed' (1984), and including the immortal stories from The Magic Barrel and the vivid depictions of the unforgettable Fidelman. It is a varied and generous collection of great examples of the modern short story, which Malamud perfected, and an ideal introduction to the work of this great American writer.
Amazon.com Review:
Due to his formidable skill as a novelist--and to the fact that one of his novels, The Natural, had the good or bad luck to be repackaged as a large-screen vehicle for Robert Redford--Bernard Malamud hasn't always been recognized as short-story master of the first rank. As this collection demonstrates once and for all, he is. The anthology pieces, such as 'The Magic Barrel,' 'The Silver Dish,' or 'Rembrandt's Hat,' would be more than enough to place the author in the pantheon. But the 54 stories gathered here represent an astonishing abundance of narrative smarts and brilliant, Yiddish-accented prose. Malamud's heroes meet all manner of misfortune--there's something distinctly Job-like about even his most contented characters (a typical one has 'a sort of indigenous sadness [that] hung on or around him')--yet the author suffuses their woes with gentle comedy. And while Jews occupy center stage in almost every tale, they are universal rather than parochial figures: as the beleaguered tailor in 'Angel Levine' triumphantly informs his wife, 'Believe me, there are Jews everywhere.'
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - As good as it gets ...
There are very few short stories in this collection that aren't every bit as good as the brilliant novels (The Assistant and The Fixer) ... some are perhaps scaled down versions ... The Magic Barrel, for one.
Everybody should read Malamud at some point or other ...
Rating: - "The Last Mohican"
This collection reveals the genius of Malamud as a short story writer second to none. The Georgia Catholic author Flannery O'Connor saw this clearly when, after reading Malamud, she remarked wittily on why Jewish writers were "different." In her words, "They're smarter than us." To my mind, the signal story in this collection is the too little known "The Last Mohican." This comical Arthur Fidelman story, about a failed Jewish artist who's come to Italy to write a critical study on the Christian artist ... Read More
Rating: - Master of the Short Story
Called the modern master of the short story, Malamud has won two National Book Awards and the Pulitzer Prize (for the Fixer). The Complete Stories is a collection of short stories -- bound by a central theme. All are about individuals faced with moral decisions or confronted by societal limitations. You'll find that the stories in this book highlight the mundane and the absurd.
I was touched by the characters in the book because they are so human. I was amused, angered, and felt great pity ... Read More
Rating:  - Beautiful short story anthology
I heard about the writer during the Nextbook.org book readings in Chicago. I have never read any of Malamud's work previously. Curious to learn about how he perceived life of immigrants, Jewish underclass and life struggles in general, I have decided to read his complete collection of short stories. It was pure delight to read these short stories not only because of their intense content, bu also because it gave complete insight of the Malamud's growth as a writer. One can see how his writing and style ... Read More
Rating: - Even better than his novels
I picked this book up because I liked the cover and I thought, however right or wrong, that a publisher would release a collection of this length to only a quality writer. I was not wrong; this man is a master. I have read "The First Seven Years" at least fifteen times, and I have my classes read it all the time. I wish I could have met Malamud.
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Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780374126391
ISBN: 0374126399
Label: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 400
Publication Date: October 24, 1997
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Sales Rank: 801531
Studio: Farrar, Straus and Giroux