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.

As the Century staggers to a close under the burdens of its expansive history authors, freed from many constraints, are exploring new ideas on a more intimate scale but on a wider landscape. Their now everyday names and reputations are forged in these stories.

1 - The Top 10 - The 1890's - The Men - An Introduction

2 - Youth - Part 1 by Joseph Conrad

3 - Youth - Part 1 by Joseph Conrad

4 - About Love by Anton Chekhov

5 - Twenty-Six Men and a Girl by Maxim Gorky

6 - B24 by Arthur Conan Doyle

7 - Lost Hearts by M R James

8 - The Burial of the Rats by Bram Stoker

9 - An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce

10 - The Inconsiderate Waiter by J M Barrie

11 - Hide And Seek or Pliatki by Fyodor Sologub

12 - The Repairer of Reputations - Part 1 by Robert W Chambers

13 - The Repairer of Reputations - Part 2 by Robert W Chambers