The World's Greatest Books — Volume 03 — Fiction

This volume gathers some of the finest short fiction from the nineteenth century, presenting a panorama of literary styles and sensibilities. At its heart is Alphonse Daudet's "Tartarin of Tarascon," a delicious comic portrait of a small-town hunter whose imagination far exceeds his courage or competence. Tartarin has never left his Provençal town, yet he fancies himself a great African explorer, purchasing mountains of unsuitable gear and spinning grand tales for anyone who will listen. When he finally embarks for Algeria, the reality proves rather less accommodating than his fantasies. Also included are works by Charles Dickens and other masters of the form, offering a satisfying mix of humor, social observation, and character study. The collection demonstrates why these writers endured: they understood that the deepest truths about human nature often reveal themselves through laughter.