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.

This limb of land extends into the Atlantic Ocean. It's fortunes and livelihood based on what its rugged landscape, it's shores and surrounding seas could bring to its people. Within the ranks of these locally born authors are some of our greatest talents.

01 - The Top 10 - Authors of the English South-West - An Introduction

2 - The Fiddler of the Reels by Thomas Hardy

3 - The Female Husband by Henry Fielding

4 - Miss Ogilivy Finds Herself by Radclyffe Hall

5 - Private Merrick, Company Idiot by Sapper

6 - Lucy Wren by Ada Radford

7 - The Omnibus by Arthur Quiller-Couch

8 - Betty Brown, the St Giles Orange Girl by Hannah More

9 - The Botathen Ghost from Footprints of Former Men in Far Cornwall by the Reverend R S Hawker

10 - After the Funeral by Mary Butts

11 - Fantomina or Love in a Maze - Part 1 by Eliza Haywood

12 - Fantomina or Love in a Maze - Part 2 by Eliza Haywood