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.

The Century races to a close but the reality of a woman's place within it is still accepted as downtrodden and disposable. Society is slow to recognise and even slower to act. Our female authors begin to shine a light on where the future lies through these magnificent literary gems.

1 - The Top 10 - Women. The 1890's - An Introduction

2 - The Yellow Wall Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

3 - From The Dead by Edith Nesbit

4 - Desiree's Baby by Kate Chopin

5 - The Burglar's Christmas by Willa Cather

6 - Passed by Charlotte Mew

7 - The Hired Baby, A Romance of the London Streets by Mary Mackay writing as Marie Corelli

8 - A New England Nun by Mary E Wilkins Freeman

9 - Another Freak by Mary Angela Dickens

10 - The Ghost at the Wrath by Rosa Mulholland

11 - Irremediable by Ella D'Arcy