Stories by American Authors, Volume 2

Step into a compact salon of turn‑of‑the‑century American storytelling, where each piece captures a distinct slice of life or imagination. The collection opens with a mischievous ghost who appears in a country house, prompting the narrator to question what is real and what belongs to longing. A later tale swings into the bright chatter of a dinner‑party, while another follows a determined woman chasing scientific truth against social expectations.

Together the stories showcase a blend of humor, sentiment, and a hint of the uncanny that was popular with magazine readers of the 1880s. Stockton’s witty twist on a lingering spirit sits beside Jacob’s earnest tribute to a pioneering doctor, and Spofford’s mountain setting offers a quiet melancholy that lingers after the final line. Each narrative is concise enough to hold attention in a single sitting, yet rich enough to invite repeated listening and reflection on the values and curiosities of a bygone America.