The Selected Stories of Mavis Gallant by Mavis Gallant

Mavis Gallant is a renowned Canadian writer whose Selected Stories of Mavis Gallant has been widely praised as one of the finest short story collections of the 20th century. Published in 1996, the book contains thirty-five of her finest works stretching across an impressive writing career that began in 1952. Her stories, which often weave together rigorous moral scrutiny and psychological insight, display a nuanced understanding of the complexities of family, identity, human relationships and the immigrant experience, captivating readers from the outset.

The Selected Stories of Mavis Gallant consists of stories drawn from three existing collections, and begins with a selection from the 1952 collection From the Fifteen Streets. This opening tale, entitled ‘Variations on a Theme’, introduces readers to the themes and characters that Gallant will explore throughout the book. It follows a young woman who is tempted by an older, sophisticated man and his glamorous lifestyle, but ultimately resists and leaves the city with newfound courage.

This is followed by three stories taken from The Pegnitz Junction, one of Gallant’s most acclaimed works and her first collection to be published in the United States. ‘The Ice-Cream Family’ follows an Italian immigrant family in Canada as they reflect on their life and struggles. ‘Mosenthal’ introduces readers to a middle-aged Jewish man trying to find his place in Canadian society. And in ‘Not Least Under Heaven’, two French women living in 1950s Montreal confront the chilling prospect of growing old without love or family. All three stories display the measured and thoughtful prose that Gallant has come to be known for, as well as her flair for creating vivid and complex characters despite the brevity of the stories.

Next, readers will find stories from The End of the World and Other Stories, as well as Home Truths, a collection which was praised for ‘captur[ing] the Canada of the 1950s, of the fearful adolescent, of churches and bingo, of campfires and clumsy passion’. Both collections focus on the lives of promise and occasional failure of immigrants and their children. In some, like ‘Going Ashore’, we are introduced to characters caught between two worlds, desperately seeking acceptance and a sense of belonging amidst the uncertainties of migration. In others, such as ‘Dressed All in Pink’ and ‘Conscience’, Gallant examines the lives of the privileged, revealing the hidden depths and hypocrisies of their characters.

The third set of stories, drawn from The Cost of Living, was the first to establish Gallant as a major force in Canadian literature. It began a tradition of vivid and sometimes harrowing depictions of the immigrant experience in Canada, but also contained stories of travel to foreign lands, as well as as an exploration of the unique complexities of different social settings. In ‘A Daemon at the Gate’, readers are introduced to a conservative political family in 1960s Montreal; in ‘What is To Be Done?’, we are taken to Moscow during the Cold War; and in ‘A Meeting in Paris’, we witness the meeting of two former lovers in a provincial French town.

The sheer range of stories in this collection make it invaluable to anyone interested in Gallant’s work. While they share some of the same themes and characters, each story never fails to surprise and inspire, with unexpected twists and unforgettable characters. Together, they are a testament to the power and beauty of Gallant’s writing. The Selected Stories of Mavis Gallant is an essential collection for any reader looking to understand the life and work of one of Canada’s greatest literary figures.