Five great American short story writers, dating from the turn of the 19th/20th centuries are represented here. Different in atmosphere and writing style, they nevertheless caught the mood and concerns of the day in a way that was distinctly American. Bierce's An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge leaves echoes in the imagination, the stories by Crane and London recall the themes of the Civil War and the klondike for which they are well known. Twain's humour is to the fore in The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and O. Henry's sharp observation makes his neat tales a joy to listen to. An attractive and accessible collection. O. Henry: The Last Leaf and Other Stories Jack London: Brown Wolf Ambrose bierce: An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge Mark Twain: The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Stephen Crane: The Veteran