The tale of a woman who is confined to her bedroom as part of a rest cure for her so-called hysteria, as the narrator slips into madness she becomes increasingly enamored by the yellow color of her room. Published in 1892, The Yellow Wallpaper is another classic of early-modern gothic horror, though it emphasizes psychological distress over some of the more fantastic elements embraced by Gilman’s peers. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

The story of a small village lottery - the winner of which will be stoned to death - it almost singlehandedly created the modern concept of gothic horror thanks to its gloomy atmosphere and use of thought-provoking, disturbing irony. Narrated by a murderer whose sanity gradually slips as he meditates on his crime and is haunted by the beating heart of his victim, this story helped to set the standard for early gothic romanticism.įirst released in The New Yorker in 1948, The Lottery is a masterwork of grim atmosphere and troubling themes. Known for penning many gothic masterpieces, The Tell-Tale Heart is Poe’s most renowned short story. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poeįew genres have made as much use of the short story format as horror, and it’s difficult to say that any such writer stands above Poe. Some of these are classic tales that have been beloved for decades while others are from current authors who are still breaking literary ground today, but they are truly great short stories one and all. But rest assured that those you’ll find recommended here are almost universally considered some of the most important little works of literature ever thanks to some combination of their revolutionary style, timeless storytelling, or influence on nearly all writers to follow. Admittedly, it is difficult to call them the best short stories because quality is subjective. To that end, there are a smattering of short stories that stand out from the crowd. A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor.Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway.The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

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