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.

Many say one language dominates literature, and from there one Country – England. The sceptered isle does indeed have more than its fair share of literary behemoths. And this is only the men.

1 - The Top 10 - The English - The Men - An Introduction

2 - The Baron of Grogzwig by Charles Dickens

3 - Odour of Chrysanthemums by D H Lawrence

4 - The Magic Shop by H G Wells

5 - Father Giles of Ballymoy by Anthony Trollope

6 - The Salvation of a Forsythe - Part 1 by John Galsworthy

7 - The Salvation of a Forsythe - Part 2 by John Galsworthy

8 - The Interlopers by Saki the pseudonym for H H Munro

9 - The Matador of the Five Towns by Arnold Bennett

10 - Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You My Lad by M R James

11 - A Terribly Strange Bed by Wilkie Collins

12 - The House of Cobwebs by George Gissing