Twenty unforgettable stories-the best of the year-by celebrated writers as well as new and emerging voices.

The O. Henry Prize Stories 2014 contains twenty prize-winning stories chosen from thousands published in literary magazines over the previous year. The winning stories roam the world, from Nigeria to Venice, from an erupting volcano in Iceland to a brothel in the old Wild West. They feature a dazzling array of characters brought vividly to life- a young American falling in love in Japan, a girl raised by snake-handling fundamentalists, an old man mourning his late wife, and a fierce guard dog with a talent for escape. The stories are accompanied by essays from the eminent jurors on their favorites, observations from the winning writers on what inspired them, and an extensive resource list of magazines.