“A Writer is Always Writing”

Abstract

Even a reader well acquainted with Frank O’Connor’s short stories may be surprised by an unfamiliar collection. One might happily discover a story one might not have read, but other surprises await. Here, for instance, is the familiar text of a cherished story, looking slightly foreign. The title and basic outlines are the same, but details and characters are reshaped or deleted. It begins or ends differently; its plot takes an unexpected turn. Any collection may contain several such variations on apparently familiar themes, or retitled stories which turn out to be subtly or boldly rewritten versions of older tales.