The Most Anthologized Short Stories of Recent Times

English and creative writing students in the American school system are exposed to numerous important, influential novels, including Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Students also benefit from reading and discussing some of the most well-known examples of short fiction.

A study conducted by LitHub.com determined Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried to be the most anthologized short story of modern times. Researchers for the website found the story in 10 different anthologies. First published in a 1990 collection of the same name, the story explores Lieutenant Jimmy Cross’s thoughts on the physical reminders of grief. The story comments on the Vietnam War, but is more concerned with the nature of stories and how narratives inform our lives and create the world around us.

Originally published on Strikingly at Nov, 7 2023