All The Pubs In Soho Storycuts

When two flamboyant men arrive in a sleepy Kent village in 1956, it does not take long for the duo - in their colourful corduroy jackets and jeans - to gain notoriety. Local child Joe, in a burst of irrepressible curiosity, is discovered by the pair after breaking into their cottage in order to spy on the 'bloody pansies'. From these unlikely beginnings, a friendship and sense of solidarity develop between the three; but it is an alliance that will be challenged by a hostile and intolerant community. Part of the Storycuts series, this story was previously published in the collection The Atmospheric Railway.

In 'Nay, Ivy, Nay', a mean old mycologist, who has fostered a beautiful white holly tree, denies his neighbour a sprig. In 'Wasps' Nest', will the wasp nest survive the pest controller? In 'Windfalls', picking up the windfall apples with his grandson and remembering his own son as a boy brings Martin true contentment. Part of the Storycuts series, these three stories were previously published in the collection The Atmospheric Railway.

In 'Swansong', Louisa has returned to her home town to attend the funeral of a friend, but she is distracted by memories of a man she once knew and the sheer number of swans in the town's charity shops. 'Ennui' tells the possible story of an artistic couple from the early 20th century. In 'Bananas', a timid grandmother finds herself increasingly embarrassed by the attentions of the exuberant local foreign shopkeeper whom she has secretly christened 'Bananas'. In 'Where the Carpet Ends', Miss Agnew lives in the rafters of an Eastbourne hotel, amongst eccentric characters drawn together in their 'reduced circumstances'. Stifled by her stale and impoverished surroundings, she dreams of change. Part of the Storycuts series, these four stories were previously published in the collection The Atmospheric Railway.

In 'The Most Beautiful Dress in the World', recovering alcoholic Harriet steps out into the garden of her grey, dilapidated house on an autumn day. It is daughter Miranda's first day at Fashion College, and Harriet is determined to make the most of the peace and quiet. However, when good intentions go awry, Harriet's initial optimism disintegrates into a caustic mixture of despair and self-loathing, building to a terrible and violent crescendo. In 'Cardboard City', Stella and Vanessa are young sisters who live in the shadow of their hated stepfather. They escape his overbearing presence for an afternoon of Christmas shopping in central London, where Stella can't help wistfully searching for their estranged real father in a nearby bar. The crowded streets of the city soon exhaust their money and patience, and they decide to return home, but not before Vanessa spies a familiar face on an escalator at the station . . . Part of the Storycuts series, these two stories were previously published in the collection The Atmospheric Railway.

In 'Nanny', Professor Campbell Forsythe gives his lecture on metamorphosis in the dull little town of Ditcham, where events from his past come back unexpectedly to alter him forever. In 'Radio Gannet', Norma chances across a strange pirate radio station, only to realise that the voice issuing from the speakers belongs to none other than her elderly, ramshackle sister Dolly. 'The Lower Loxley Effect' explores the importance of family: the strangers with whom you share your inheritance and your future. Part of the Storycuts series, these three stories were previously published in the collection The Atmospheric Railway.

In 'That Innocent Bird', Jock MacSiller was a seafaring man before the loss of his leg forced him ashore. But he still keeps his old parrot, a bird who has an illustrious past himself. In 'The Heart of Saturday Night', Alex spends his weekend contemplating the decline of his writing career and his love for his colleague's wife. In 'Jumbo Takes a Bath', Eloise recognises a kindred spirit in her date. In 'Shalimar', Mrs de Vere, living alone in a house by the sea, has an interesting past. But an accident involving her animal-loving little nephew reconfigures her entire world view. Part of the Storycuts series, these four stories were previously published in the collection The Atmospheric Railway.

Providing easy access to information on nearly 450 short stories, this unique guide surveys a wide spectrum of world literature, canonical works, and contemporary fiction. Librarians and teachers will find multiple purposes for this expertly-compiled resource, which can be employed in much the same way as a standard bibliography. Educators will appreciate the concise annotations, arranged alphabetically by author, that form the core of this work. Insightful critical statements synthesize plot summaries and identify the thematic content of each short story. A theme guide utilizes the nearly 100 theme headings matching those at the start of each entry, allowing the user to quickly locate story titles on related themes and construct reading lists based on individual interests and needs. Another component designed to aid librarians offers one bibliography that lists the anthologies from which the stories are drawn (Works Cited) and one comprised of a number of recent anthologies that can be adapted for the classroom (Further Reading). In addition to the theme index, the general subject and author indexes make this a user-friendly and invaluable resource.