Short fiction in France has made a major contribution to French culture and literature. This volume provides insights into some examples of this sort of writing in the 20th century and also includes a chapter which explores the ways in which the genre is evolving as the century draws to a close. Each chapter has been written by specialists in their particular field. They invite the reader to go beyond the immediate context or circumstances of what is related in the story under scrutiny and illustrate some of the many ways in which short stories may be narrated. In some cases stories are revisited and subjected to new interpretations; in others those perhaps less well known are revealed as being no less rewarding.