The Record of Badalia Herodsfoot by Rudyard Kipling — Review

The Record of Badalia Herodsfoot by Rudyard Kipling is a stunning, dramatic, heartbreaking story of a woman-martyr, in words - an atheist, in deeds - a righteous woman. 

 

The narration allows readers to look at life from new points of view. The characters of the story don’t look attractive. The narration is written frankly, fiercely, mercilessly.  

 

The ending makes readers shudder at the same time with horror and delight.

 

Here is the link to the text of the story:

https://telelib.com/authors/K/KiplingRudyard/prose/ManyInventions/badaliaherodsfoot.html

The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad — Review

"The Secret Sharer" by Joseph Conrad presents a genre of a marine narrative. It is also a psychological thriller with the dominant character focusing on the hero's inner drama. The narrator tells the story not only about the others but also about himself and becomes the subject and object of the story.

 

The author uses the technique of split personality to bring suspense and to sharpen the psychological conflict of the story.

 

Here is the link to the text of the story:

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/220/220-h/220-h.htm

The Killers By Ernest Hemingway — Review

According to the plot of the story “The Killers” by Ernest Hemingway, two subjects arrive at the same diner, order food, and wait for one person for a specific purpose. They are killers and their purpose is clear.

The condemned man is shown in an interesting way. This person does not struggle, he decides to accept his fate as it is. Hemingway raises the philosophical question: Is it possible to change your fate and life or is everything useless and predestined for us.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://liternet.bg/publish24/e_hemingway/killers.htm

Hermann the Irascible by Saki — Review

The short story “Hermann the Irascible” by British writer Saki (the original name Hector Hugh Munro) represents the satirical style of literature that reflects society at the beginning of the previous century.

The plot of the story is entirely built on hyperbole: women get the right to vote, but they have to choose people for various minor positions, so their life turns into a continuous process of voting.

Here is the link to the text of the story:

https://short-stories.co/stories/hermann-the-irascible-9BV509pnlxq

Miriam by Truman Capote – Review

American writer Truman Capote wrote the story “Miriam” at the age of 19. 

According to the plot, an elderly woman, Miriam Miller, lives alone after the death of her husband.  She gets insurance from this and it is enough to allow herself some excesses.  For example, Miriam sometimes goes to the movies.  For an elderly person, this is undoubtedly a nice form of entertainment.  

 

During one such exit from the cinema, she meets a little girl at the box office who is richly dressed and even has a gold chain around her neck. The young girl introduces herself and it turns out that her name is also Miriam. She asks the elderly woman to buy her a ticket, as the girl has never been to the cinema before.

The story represents the theme of loneliness and egoism. Through the aspect of mysticism, the author expresses the fears of a child who sits inside all of us and brings us to tears and despair.

 

Here is the link to the text of the story:

https://literaryfictions.com/fiction-1/miriam-by-truman-capote/