Reviews

This anthology of nine stories and the essay, ``The Novel Demeuble,'' is a handy assemblage of Cather at her short best. Containing the frequently reprinted ``Sculptor's Funeral,'' ``Paul's Case,'' and ``Neighbour Rosicky,'' it also includes some less well known but equally good stories (``The Bohemian Girl,'' ``Old Mrs. Harris''). In the current literary stock market, Cather's shares have remained steadily blue chip, having weathered 50 years with an elegance of craft and a sustained dignity. Her consistent focus on character--in the literary, psychological, and moral senses of the term--is richly evidenced in these selections. A serviceable introduction by the editor makes this publication a useful entryway into the world of Cather's fiction.-- Earl Rovit, City Coll., CUNY