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Selected Shorts

Sunday, August 17, 2008
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  • (catchesthelight/flickr)

    Love, lost and found, and a Fish.

    ”Really, she hadn’t neglected the poor fish. ‘Neglect’ seems a word too heavy with submerged intent. Something was bound to slip to the side amidst the chaos of the domestic arena.”
    --David Means, “The Secret Goldfish”

    A fish is more than a family pet, and another woman enriches a marriage in a contemporary story and a tale by an American master.

David Means’ “The Secret Goldfish” was featured in a program celebrating the "Best American Short Stories" — the annual volume published by Houghton Mifflin and guest edited in 2005 by Michael Chabon. In this intricately crafted tale, first published in The New Yorker, the life of the family goldfish seems to parallel that of the family itself, and his tank, a reflection of their past, present, and future. “The Secret Goldfish” is the title story of Means’ latest collection; his previous book, "Assorted Fire Events" was critically acclaimed for its emotional fervor and meticulous prose. Reader Charles Keating played Rex in the celebrated adaptation of "Brideshead Revisited," and had two seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Other theatre credits include"What the Butler Saw," "A Man for All Seasons" and "Pygmalion." He brings Fish and his troubled family vividly to life.

From one of our programs presented at The Mount, Edith Wharton’s home in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts, comes Sherwood Anderson’s confessional “The Other Woman,” a tale of true love and temptation. Anderson is best known as the author of "Winesburg, Ohio," but also published a handful of novels including the aptly named "Many Marriages" (he was, four times) and "Dark Laughter." Reader Keir Dullea, star of "2001: A Space Odyssey," "2010: The Year We Make Contact" and "David and Lisa" and many regional theatre productions, tours regularly with SELECTED SHORTS.

"The Secret Goldfish" by David Means, read by Charles Keating
The Other Woman by Sherwood Anderson, read by Keir Dullea

For additional works featured on SELECTED SHORTS, please visit Symphony Space

Comments

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  • [1] paul scheer from white plains, ny August 17, 2008 - 09:04AM

    how can i listen again to a piece this am 8.17.08 about the death of the mother of an asian woman?
  • [2] lonnie carter from Falls Village, CT August 17, 2008 - 01:36PM

    How do I listen tot he Sherwood Anderson story The Other Woman? I missed the second half.
  • [3] lonnie carter from Falls Village, CT August 17, 2008 - 01:37PM

    I missed the second half of the Sherwood Anderson story. How do I listen to it?
  • [4] R. Hill from Texas August 17, 2008 - 07:50PM

    Me too! I would like to hear (and have) the whole story, The Other Woman.

  • [5] Tom Cowing from Ithaca, NY August 19, 2008 - 10:23AM

    Can you send me the full name and composer of the musical theme used at the beginning and end of Selected Shorts - I believe it is called "Come to the Meadow", but I don't know the composer of the music.

    thanks,

    Tom Cowing

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