A century ago, Henry Kitchell Webster (1875-1932) was a well-known, well-paid, and well-respected author. His stories frequently appeared in major magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post. In 1921, the New York Times printed his thoughts on ‘What Is a Novel, Anyhow?’ But why should we bother with his novels, short stories, and plays today? Because his characters are charming and intelligent. They pursue their goals in intriguing ways. The situations are unusual: this volume includes several set in the theater and in the business world. The endings are unpredictable, except in the sense that they are upbeat and satisfying. Webster’s works hold their appeal because of that upbeat sense of life. If you enjoy the sculpture of Augustus Saint Gaudens or the paintings of Maxfield Parrish (both of whose lives overlap with Webster’s), you’ll probably find delight in Webster’s works as well. Volume 2 of Webster’s Collected Works, covering 1913-1914, includes twenty short stories, one play (previously unpublished), thirty-six letters (all previously unpublished), and a short biography of Webster.
قائمة المحتويات
Henry Kitchell Webster: A Short Biography
PART 1: STORIES SET IN CHICAGO AND THE MIDWEST
Letting George Do It
Angela’s Idea
Correspondence related to ‘Angela’s Idea’
Strictly Vicarious
The New Technique
Correspondence related to ‘The New Technique’
His Day Off
Correspondence related to ‘His Day Off’
Vanilla
Bill Came Back
Correspondence related to ‘Bill Came Back’
The Shower
Correspondence related to ‘The Shower’
The Absurdity Is-Just That It Should Be Absurd
Bread and Butter
Correspondence related to ‘Bread and Butter’
PART 2: DRAMA
The Outcry: A Play in One Act
Correspondence related to ‘The Outcry’
PART 3: STORIES SET IN EXOTIC LOCALES
Giving Cynthia a Rest
Correspondence related to ‘Giving Cynthia a Rest’
The Grafter: A Man Who Reached a New Level of Uselessness
Correspondence related to ‘The Grafter’
The Good Angel
Correspondence related to ‘The Good Angel’
The Honorable Sylvia
Correspondence related to ‘The Honorable Sylvia’
PART 4: STORIES SET IN THE THEATER
The Spoon Tune
Brunette, Medium
The Spring of the Year
Correspondence related to ‘The Spring of the Year’
The Highbrow Lady
Correspondence related to ‘The High Brow Lady’
Heart of Gold
Correspondence related to ‘Heart of Gold’
The Painted Scene
Correspondence related to ‘The Painted Scene’
PART 5: A SELECTION OF OTHER CORRESPONDENCE FROM 1913 AND 1914
Regarding The Ghost Girl, a novel published in 1913
Regarding The Butterfly, a novel published in 1914
On writing and publishing
About the Editor