In Mary Wilkins Freeman: A Study of the Short Fiction, Mary R. Reichardt presents a finely crafted overview of the writer's extensive, sometimes daunting body of short stories and helps readers attain a broad understanding of Freeman's multi-faceted achievement. Following a close reading of the theme, technique, and style of two stories, Reichardt surveys Freeman's short fiction during three phases of her career.

For each of these phases Reichardt provides both individual analysis of selected stories and commentary about other tales representative of the period.

Particularly useful is Reichardt's eclectic approach, combining a New Critical perspective with elements of reader-response, psychological, feminist and revisionist criticism; her careful attention to not just the well-known early stories but the innovative middle and later ones too; and her focus on Freeman as contributing profoundly to the development of the American short story.

A clear and graceful guide to the stories of a writer who merits enduring attention, Mary Wilkins Freeman: A Study of the Short Fiction is suitable for a range of courses in English and women's studies.