Sitting comfortably? Then let’s begin...
Back in the Twenties when Good Housekeeping first hit the newsstands, short stories were an essential part of the mix. There were at least three per issue, and over the years we were proud to feature some of the most illustrious authors of their day – from Elizabeth Bowen to Doris Lessing, Edna O’brien to Maeve Binchy. Then the popularity of the short story declined and, by the turn of the century, fiction was a rare ingredient in most women’s magazines.
But short stories are once again in vogue. Blame our short attention span? I don’t think so. But certainly we are busier than we used to be. And a finely-crafted short story can be just the thing to take us out of ourselves for a few minutes of blessed relief – not least from the 24-hour rolling news that we are now subjected to. And Summer, when the days are longer and lighter and you just might be enjoying Good Housekeeping in your garden with a cup of tea (or a glass of Pimm’s), seems like the perfect time to indulge.
So in this issue (and in August), we are treating you to two short stories. Alexander Mccall Smith is a great friend of Good Housekeeping and it’s always fun to see what’s fresh off the typewriter of the creator of The No1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. And, as a fan of TV’S Apple Tree Yard, aired earlier this year, I was intrigued as to what author Louise Doughty would come up with for us. Her poignant short story reduced at least one member of the team to tears – in the office! On the subject of fiction, this year marks the bicentenary of Jane Austen’s death, so we asked four famous faces – all who have been inspired by Austen in different ways – to choose their favourite character from her novels. My own personal project for the past year has been to write some fiction myself, so I have been studying at Birkbeck, a part of the University of London that specialises in evening courses for people who work full-time. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it is that writers always keep diaries. So it was particularly exciting for me that this issue also features an interview with David Sedaris, the author, Radio 4 broadcaster and one of the funniest and most pre-eminent diarists at work today. So whether you are feeling inspired – or need to be taken out of the day-to-day – there’s something for everyone in this issue. See you next month,
A short story can be just the thing to take us out of ourselves for a few minutes of blessed relief