Book excerpt: A new collection of short stories from an English master, edited and with a preface by acclaimed author Russell Banks Originating in the folktale and with an occasional infusion of gothic horror or fantasy, A. E. Coppard’s stories still feel fresh and surprising today. Coppard came to the short story later in life but left an indelible mark on it. Staunch in his belief that the short story was a distinctive form with little relation to the novel, he wove his tales out of the substance of life in the English countryside, with its memorable and distinctive characters. Reissued with a new preface from award-winning and bestselling author Russell Banks, and including classic tales like “The Black Dog,” “The Handsome Lady,” and “The Higgler,” The Hurly Burly restores this enormously important writer to the position he deserves and introduces him to a new generation of readers.