The Collected Stories of Richard Yates: Short Fiction from the author of Revolutionary Road

This collection is introduced by Richard Russo who does a tremendous job of dissecting "a Yates' story" and what the reader feels as a result of reading his work. Russo likens the latter to "the exhilaration of encountering, recognizing, and embracing the truth". It was interesting to read Yates' short biography at the back of the book as key events in his life were obvious inspiration for these stories; his frustrated sculptress mother, army service, health, journalism and advertising, and time in Europe (or preparing to leave for Europe) all appear time and again.The first third of this collection, Eleven Kinds of Loneliness, begins with Doctor Jack-o'-Lantern that covers the miscommunications and challenges between student and teacher and student with peers. The Best of Everything is a quick and unsettling little tale about marriage and a young couple not quite being right for each other. Jody Rolled The Bones has Yates visiting the military as he often does and ably demonstrating how a group of young men can rapidly mature and recognize that often what they need is what they want least. The B.A.R. Man reveals that one's best days are in the past and once realized it can lead to bad decisions. The final tale, Builders, I found the most intriguing of the bunch. It communicates the need for hope and optimism while extolling the pursuit of farfetched dreams.The second part of this collection, Liars in Love, begins with a nod to Yates' real mother and the complexity of homeschooling. Other ones of interest included, A Natural Girl which shows how wrong and powerless a father can be. A Compassionate Leave was a disturbing portrayal of a distant and lost family. Regards at Home was similar in exploration to the Wheelers decision in Revolutionary Road to move to Paris.The last part is called The Uncollected Stories and it commences with The Canal. This is my favorite type of Yates story where he combines flashbacks to the Second World War with contemporary US in the 1950's or 1960's (like The B.A.R. Man). In this story a cocktail party provides the setting for old war stories and the shocking remembrance of old wounds. The Comptroller and the Wild Wind reveals the beginning of a disintegration in the character of George Pollock, Comptroller, American Bearing Corporation. Yates does such a fantastic job capturing the faceless managerial caste following World War Two in all of his work.Not all of the stories are that strong unto themselves but in the aggregate they offer up a journey into uncomfortable lives and the dangerous situations we humans create over the lengths of our lives and in the depths of our relationships.

Its so interesting ! I love the Ms snell story !

I don't normally gravitate toward story collections. But after reading "Revolutionary Road," and being astounded by the quality of the writing, character development and themes, I wanted more. First I read "The Easter Parade," then decided to try Yates' stories. I wasn't disappointed.This volume is divided into three sections. The first is the best, comprised of the entire collection titled "Eleven Kinds of Loneliness"; I loved every one of them, and have already re-read "A Wrestler with Sharks." The second section is from "Liars in Love." These are good, but I didn't find them as compelling and memorable as the first section - or, as it turns out, the last, which is a first-rate set of previously uncollected stories. His depiction of relationships, of "professionals," reminded me of "Mad Men," covering some of the same territory but often expanding further, dealing with war veterans, TB wards, and women as well as men who are trying to make the best of things.Just marvelous. Yates is so compelling a writer, so perfect in his depiction of the sad side of life, the realities .... You might need a break between sections, because these stories spare you nothing, prettify nothing. But neither are they depressing for the sake of being "literary,"; they're just honest. No stylistic glitter, no clever hooks or pretension or posing, just great writing. I don't understand why Hemingway, Updike and Roth are so well-known and revered while Richard Yates is a name few people know. He belongs in the "canon." I wish I'd discovered him a long time ago.

Yates is (or was since he is deceased) one of my favorite writers/authors. I first read his 2 of his novels way back in college (late '70's) but his short stories were not compiled (perhaps not yet written) at that time. His writing is very similar in "subject" to John Cheever, John Updike, Raymond Carver and Frederick Bush-the soul sucking existence of life in the suburbs during the 1950's. Primarily during that time because that's when the authors I named were writing (except Bush who was later) but also because it probably WAS often a grim experience when that era was generally viewed to be heaven to most. WWII was over, the economy robust and buying a home in the suburbs was considered to be the American Dream. Yates's stories show the dark side-the often excessive drinking, unhappy and unfulfilled wives, etc. Cheever's short stories are probably the very best but Yates is a very close second AND his novels are as good as his short stories (unlike Cheever who, in my opinion, was never able to translate his mastery of writing short stories into full-length novels). Yates can do both and very well.

I've read many short stories in my seventy years. Yates writes of the 1940's and 1950's with engrossing clarity and utterly believable dialogue. There's a REALNESS to his stories that keeps me wholly engrossed. Everything rings true. There isn't a false note in his writing, neither in his characters nor his narratives. Every character sounds like someone you would actually know. J F (Philadelphia, PA August, 2020)

Yates is best known for Revolutionary Road, but his other stories are also wonderful. He presents real people in challenging relationships, and does it in a very engaging manner!

Brilliant short stories.

Good