Shiloh by Bobbie Ann Mason is a masterpiece in economy when it comes to creative writing. From start to finish, it follows the ambitions and dreams of the characters, as they head toward an inevitable conclusion.

Interpreter of maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri is elegant, beautifully written and there are plenty of literary tropes to discuss, including character arcs and the role of third-person narration.

Combining a mastery of structure and pace with a telling and uniquely strong voice and texture, ‘Cathedral’ has become a staple of creative writing and English literature syllabuses.

Rondine al nido is a chilling account of two young girls who find themselves in over their heads, and the ensuing aftermath

‘Sonny’s Blues’ is a key part of Baldwin’s canon, written at the height of his literary prowess, just one year before his masterpiece Giovanni’s Room. The story demonstrates many of the writing skills that Baldwin is known for, notably his ability to weave complex issues into beautifully simple stories that, at their heart, dive straight to the core of the human condition.

Devastatingly compact, pithy and the epitome of the American author’s iceberg theory, Hills like white elephants is one of Ernest Hemingway’s most well-known and celebrated pieces of short fiction.