Here in one volume are twenty-three of the finest stories by Katherine Mansfield. Considered one of the finest short-story writers of the twentieth century, Mansfield was from a young age heavily influenced by Anton Chekhov, a master of the form.

This new selection, with an introduction by the novelist Emily Perkins, ranges across Mansfield's oeuvre and shows the New Zealander's dazzling brilliance.

The stories in this collection:

At the Bay

The Lady's Maid

Mr. and Mrs. Dove

The Garden Party

Marriage a la Mode

The Daughters of the Late Colonel

The Life of Ma Parker

Bliss

The Fly

The Doll's House

Her First Ball

An Ideal Family

The Escape

The Little Governess

Pictures

Mr. Reginald Peacock's Day

The Luft Bad

Miss Brill

A Birthday

Je ne parle pas francais

Psychology

A Dill Pickle

The Tiredness of Rosabel

Katherine Mansfield was born in Wellington in 1888 and left for London in 1903 to finish her schooling. After travelling in Europe she returned to New Zealand in 1906 and started writing stories. Two years later, intent on becoming a professional writer, she again went to London. The collection In a German Pension was published in 1911. Followed after the war by the acclaimed collections Bliss and The Garden Party. After her death more of her work was published, resulting in two volumes of stories, as well as collections of poetry, criticism, letters and journals.

Emily Perkins is the author of four novels, including Novel About My Wife, and a collection of short stories, Not Her Real Name. She teaches creative writing at the University of Auckland. Her latest book is The Forrests.

textclassics.com.au