This week we are embarking on a journey through “Winesburg, Ohio: A Group of Tales of Ohio Small-Town Life” By Sherwood Anderson. I will read 3 or 4 stories each week. There are 22 stories in all, so this will be over several weeks. Each of the stories shares a specific character's past and present struggle to overcome the loneliness and isolation that seem to permeate the town. Stylistically, because of its emphasis on the psychological insights of characters over plot, and plainspoken prose, Winesburg, Ohio is known as one of the earliest works of Modernist literature. It is typically placed "...midway between the novel proper and the mere collection of stories," known as the short story cycle. Aside from its structural unity, the common setting, characters, symbolism and "consistency of mood” are all additional qualities that tie the stories together despite their initial publication as separate tales. We’ll start at the beginning… “The Book of the Grotesque”, “Hands”, “Paper Pills” and “Mother”. Enjoy!
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