Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author's brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere.

In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted 'Top Tens' across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author?

The theme itself will form the boundaries for our stories which range from well-known classics, newly told, to stories that modern times have overlooked but perfectly exemplify the theme. Throughout the volume our authors whether of instant recognition or new to you are all leviathans of literature.

Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something.

A new century dawns, one in which America would become pre-eminent as its industrial might and military power rose above all others. In literature too its authors tackled new forms and new ideas, they shied away from little, immersing themselves and their readers in the promise of a new Century.

1 - The Top 10 - The 1900's - The Americans - An Introduction

2 - The Great Good Place by Henry James

3 - Eve's Diary by Mark Twain

4 - To Build a Fire by Jack London

5 - Paul's Case by Willa Cather

6 - The Gift of the Magi by O Henry

7 - The Scapegoat by Paul Laurence Dunbar

8 - A Dark Brown Dog by Stephen Crane

9 - The Defense of Strikerville by Damon Runyon

10 - The Screaming Skull by F Marion Crawford

11 - Ariel's Triumph by Booth Tarkington