In this enduring classic, renowned Irish author Seán O'Faoláin offers a penetrating examination of what makes great short fiction work. Drawing from his experience as both a master practitioner and dedicated teacher of the form, Faoláin provides aspiring writers with insights that have remained relevant for over seven decades.
The heart of O'Faoláin's approach lies not in technical formulas but in his insistence that good writing begins with authentic perception. Through clear-eyed analysis and memorable examples, he demonstrates why so many aspiring writers fail-not for lack of technique, but because they have not truly learned to see the world around them.
O'Faoláin challenges the notion that ordinary lives provide insufficient material for fiction, pointing to writers like Dickens and Maupassant who transformed humble experiences into enduring literature. He argues persuasively that the bank clerk who claims to have nothing to write about has missed the essential truth: that the writer's gift lies not in extraordinary circumstances but in extraordinary awareness.
Blending practical advice with philosophical depth, this vintage gem from the post-war literary renaissance stands as both a practical guide and a passionate defense of authenticity in fiction. For anyone serious about the craft of short stories, O'Faoláin's candid, sometimes bracingly direct counsel remains as valuable today as when first written.