Short stories and novellas can get lost in the shadow of epic novels and great works of biography, but the compact storytelling form can pack a wallop. Aside from my standbys Poe, Maupassant and Conan Doyle, these are some of my favorite stories and novellas.
Translated by Lisa Carter This is the perfect Halloween read. It is smart, sharp and dry — like a fine cheese. It leaves you wanting more, but with the knowledge that it is perfect as it is. The basic premise, without reveals the twists that make it so lovely, is that calligraphers, of the early 18th…