Ultimate Unpublished Gift Package: 11 Back Issues with Unpublished Works by Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Tennessee Williams etc

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Ultimate Unpublished Gift Package: 11 Issues with Unpublished Works by John Steinbeck, H.G. Wells, Mark Twain, Agatha Christie, and more!

This is the ultimate unpublished gift package. The name says it all! Our gift pack includes previously lost works by  Tennessee Williams, H.G. Wells, John Steinbeck, James Thurber, Agatha Christie, and Dashiell Hammett. This is the perfect gift for any literary fan or oneself. There’s no harm in buying yourself a gift now and again!

 

John Steinbeck

In our 58th issue, we’re proud to present the first American release of John Steinbeck’s “The Amiable Fleas.” The new Steinbeck story revolves around a discerning cat named Apollo. He serves as a critic and confidant to the chef of a gourmet restaurant. Add in some family conflict and a restaurant critic and you have all the ingredients of a short comedic masterpiece.

Tennessee Williams

It’s no secret that Tennessee Williams loved Italy and had a great affinity for the Italian people. In 1952, while in Rome, he wrote an excellent story reflective of changes he had witnessed in his beloved city following WWII. “The Summer Woman,” published for the first time here in The Strand, tells the tale of a seemingly respectable professor on his yearly summer vacation in post-war Italy. At this time, the people are still waking up from the nightmares of Mussolini and wartime occupation. With a few broad strokes, Williams evokes the beauty of the country and the genuine friendliness of its people. Additionally, he masterfully draws clear parallels between the American protagonist’s seasonal relationship with an Italian prostitute and U.S. entanglements overseas—both rife with conflict, resentment, and disillusionment.

Shirley Jackson

In our 66th issue, we are proud to release two previously unpublished stories by Shirley Jackson. “Charlie Roberts” takes place entirely within one conversation. In a seemingly typical domestic setting, a husband and wife discuss hosting a dinner party. While their words are free from any apparent anger or accusations, in typical Jackson fashion, what seems straightforward and even banal at first takes on a more sinister tone. Jackson’s other story, “Only Stand and Wait,” involves a man waiting for his bandages to be removed after undergoing surgery to correct lifelong blindness. This tale probes something most of us take for granted. The conversation between the man and the doctor poses interesting questions about human nature, our relationship with the world, and what sight really means.

James Thurber

James Thurber’s previously unpublished story “How Law and Order Came to Aramie” is published here in The Strand for the first time. The story is a western spoof, featuring Thurber’s ironic humor and trademark wit, as well as a couple of gun-slinging bullies, a peculiar sheriff, and the promise of a good ol’ fashioned showdown.

H.G. Wells

The fall 2016 issue of The Strand includes “The Haunted Ceiling,” a short story by H.G. Wells that has never been published before. This hidden gem is part supernatural, part psychological, and is rich in atmosphere. Our 50th issue will also feature an exclusive interview with the talented and prolific Walter Mosley. In it, the celebrated author of the Easy Rawlins series spoke about noir legends, the craft of writing, and what inspires him to write. He additionally discussed fiction by Craig Johnson, John Floyd, Jeffrey Pearce, and Larry Millet.

James M. Cain

We’re very proud to feature an unpublished short story by James M. Cain in our 69th issue of The Strand. Set in the aftermath of the Korean War, the story takes a hard look at greed, sacrifice, friendship, and redemption between three damaged and fallible characters. In just over 3,000 words, Cain offers up all the noir elements we’ve come to expect from him, complete with gritty dialogue and a cunning antagonist. Additionally, there is an unexpected twist that turns the tale on its head, offering a surprisingly nuanced take on these supposedly hard characters. It’s sure to thrill fans of neo-noirs such as Breaking Bad, Nightmare Alley, and Blade Runner.

Truman Capote

Truman Capote’s unpublished, lost short story “Another Day in Paradise” has now been published for the first time here in The Strand. The story remained unpublished until it was found handwritten in the pages of a red and gold scrolled Florentine notebook. Like so much of Capote’s other works, it has some autobiographical elements. It additionally has Capote’s signature style—evocative descriptions, wry humor, and all too human characters. While Capote will forever be associated with his 1958 novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s, made more famous by the 1961 film starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard, and his 1966 true-crime novel In Cold Blood, it was short stories that were the author’s first love and enduring passion.

Dashiell Hammett