The four authors here included are all living and active, from which it may be rightly inferred that the Swedish short story is of recent development. Verner von Heidenstam, born in 1859, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1916, has an international reputation but is not as yet widely known in America. The stories here selected are from his historical novel, _The Charles Men_, set in the time of Charles XII; for though the book has a clear unity, the separate chapters can be understood perfectly by themselves. Per Hallström, somewhat younger, is ranked even higher by Swedish critics as a master of short stories. The volume of translations just published omits, quite unaccountably, the two specimens here given which belong to his very best style. Hjalmar Söderberg, also a writer in his fifties, has been called the Anatole France of Sweden. Unknown in America up to now, his stories have won marked favor on their appearance in magazines. Sigfrid Siwertz, but slightly over forty, is the most promising of the younger generation. Less outstanding than the others, he has nevertheless a fine balance and much grace of detail. His chief novel, under the title _Downstream_, has just appeared in translation. As to the varying characteristics of these stories it seems best to leave everyone to form his own opinions. It is not likely that writers of such strong individuality will appeal equally to the general public. Such authors, however, need no apology. This volume is, unless the translator has failed badly, a challenge to American literary taste. It is not the book that is on trial but the reader. C. W. S. CONTENTS HJALMAR SÖDERBERG PAGE THE CHIMNEY-SWEEPER’S WIFE 3 BLOOM 14 THE FUR COAT 28 THE BLUE ANCHOR 34 THE KISS 44 THE DREAM OF ETERNITY 48 THE DRIZZLE 54 THE DRAWING IN INDIA INK 58 THE WAGES OF SIN 61 COMMUNION 66 THE CLOWN 71 SIGNY 76 A MASTERLESS DOG 80 SIGFRID SIWERTZ THE LADY IN WHITE 87 LEONARD AND THE FISHERMAN 104 VERNER VON HEIDENSTAM