“Mulliner’s Buck-U-Uppo” by Pelham Grenville Wodehouse — Review

The short story “Mulliner’s Buck-U-Uppo” by Pelham Grenville Wodehouse tells about Augustine Mulliner, a quiet and sickly and overly modest assistant vicar, one day received from his Aunt Angela an experimental vitamin, body strengthening remedy…

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/p-g-wodehouse/mr-mulliner-stories/text/mulliners-buck-u-uppo

“A Traveler at Forty: Paris!” by Theodore Dreiser— Review

In 1913, Dreiser published a book in a new genre of travel writing - “A Traveler at Forty” (1913). The book is interesting for studying Dreiser's journalistic and literary skills, and for identifying his views on the most important social problems.

The story of the creation of the book “A Traveler at Forty” is as follows. In 1911, Dreiser traveled to Europe. He visited England, France, and Germany. He wrote a series of essays about this trip, which he finally edited and finished in January 1912. In 1913 it was published in book form.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://loa-shared.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Dreiser_Paris.pdf

“The Swimmer,” by John Cheever— Review

The story “The Swimmer,” by John Cheever is about the transformation of the main character from a state of well-being to... What exactly awaits him at the end of this adventure, conceived and carried out by him, readers will find out when they read.

The tragedy, meaninglessness and hopelessness of existence are metaphorically defined by the author in the description of events, characters, surroundings, and natural changes.

The story can be interpreted in different ways: as the fevered imagination of a crazy protagonist, and as a metaphor for life, which the author presents to us using the example of an unlucky person who has lost his social position.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1964/07/18/the-swimmer

Both Parties Concerned by J.D.Salinger — Review

The last sentence “I don’t care if it thunders every night” of the story “Both Parties Concerned” by J.D.Salinger makes clear that the story is about love. Readers can understand why after reading the whole story.

The narration is told in the first person. The narrator tells us in a rather interesting manner (written in such a very simple language to show the social status and not very great literacy of the hero) the story of his relationship with his young wife.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://pete0121.tripod.com/SALINGER/Both_Parties_Concerned.htm

A Duel by Guy de Maupassant— Review

The story “A Duel” by Guy de Maupassant is about time after the Franco-Prussian war 1870-1871.

The war is over, returning to peaceful life, the main character a French man, and also British and Prussian officers are traveling on the train. As winners, the Prussian officer behaves impudently, humiliating French man. And suddenly he breaks down...

The ending is amazing because it was he who was able to do something real.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/guy-de-maupassant/short-story/a-duel/

Zero Hour by Ray Bradbury— Review

The story «Zero Hour» by Ray Bradbury is about children, about their games, which at first glance seem completely harmless and meaningless.

A little girl told her parents something, but they didn’t believe her and just laughed. The girl talked about a new friend, about the future conquest of planet Earth, but the mother thought that this was just her daughter’s rich imagination, like other parents.

The story is frightening, the ending is generally predictable, but Bradbury knows how to write in such a way that you feel uneasy.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/ray-bradbury/short-story/zero-hour/

The Mouse by H. H. Munro (Saki)— Review

The story “The Mouse” by H. H. Munro (Saki) is a short and funny.

On the train, a mouse got under Theodoric's clothes. But he didn’t like these creatures and, realizing that he could only get rid of it from his body if he undressed, he found himself in a difficult situation.

After all, there was a lady riding in the same compartment...

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.classicshorts.com/stories/mouse.html