Showing results by author "Katherine Mansfield" in All Categories

Rich in atmosphere and delicately observed detail, Prelude invites reflection on love, relationships, and the beauty hidden in ordinary moments. Press play and immerse yourself in Mansfield’s luminous prose—a captivating journey where every thought, gesture, and moment resonates with timeless insight and emotional depth.

Thought-provoking, lyrical, and timeless, this collection lingers in the imagination long after the final word. Press play now and let Bliss and Other Stories transport you into a world where every glance, gesture, and thought brims with meaning, subtle revelation, and unforgettable beauty.

"In a German Pension" is a 1911 collection of short stories by the writer Katherine Mansfield; her first published collection. All but three of the stories were originally published in "The New Age" edited by A. R. Orage; the first to appear was "The Child-Who-Was-Tired". The last three were first published in this collection, and her biographer Anthony Alpers thinks that two (The Swing of the Pendulum and The Blaze) were probably rejected by Orage for "The New Age".

The Baron is a short story by Katherine Mansfield: "Who is he?" I said. "And why does he sit always alone, with his back to us, too?" - "Ah!" whispered the Frau Oberregierungsrat, "he is a Baron." - She looked at me very solemnly, and yet with the slightest possible contempt - a "fancy-not-recognising-that-at-the-first-glance" expression.

The Child-Who-Was-Tired is a short story by Katherine Mansfield: She was just beginning to walk along a little white road with tall black trees on either side, a little road that led to nowhere, and where nobody walked at all, when a hand gripped her shoulder, shook her, slapped her ear. - “Oh, oh, don’t stop me,” cried the Child-Who-Was-Tired. “Let me go.”

Germans at Meat is a short story by Katherine Mansfield: Bread soup was placed upon the table. – “Ah,” said the Herr Rat, leaning upon the table as he peered into the tureen, “that is what I need. My ‘magen’ has not been in order for several days. Bread soup, and just the right consistency. I am a good cook myself”—he turned to me. – “How interesting,” I said, attempting to infuse just the right amount of enthusiasm into my voice...

The Swing of the Pendulum is a short story by Katherine Mansfield: The landlady knocked at the door. - “Come in,” said Viola. - “There is a letter for you,” said the landlady, “a special letter” - she held the green envelope in a corner of her dingy apron. - “Thanks.” Viola, kneeling on the floor, poking at the little dusty stove, stretched out her hand. “Any answer?”

The Advanced Lady is a short story by Katherine Mansfield: “Do you think we might ask her to come with us,” said Fräulein Elsa, retying her pink sash ribbon before my mirror. “You know, although she is so intellectual, I cannot help feeling convinced that she has some secret sorrow. And Lisa told me this morning, as she was turning out my room, that she remains hours and hours by herself, writing; in fact Lisa says she is writing a book! I suppose that is why she never cares to mingle with us, and has so little time for her husband and the child.”

The Modern Soul is more about characters than action. The story begins with the stereotype of the pompous German music professor explaining to the young English narrator why he incessantly eats cherries: “There is nothing like cherries for producing free saliva after trombone playing, especially after Grieg’s ‘Ich Liebe Dich’” He’s cherry eating is connected with a consuming desire for women. The two older Germans, the Professor and the German actress’ mother, talk incessantly of food and soul. They agree that the English are “fish blooded,” cold and without soul.

In The Sister of the Baroness by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of appearance, identity, self-importance, class and escape. Taken from her In a German Pension collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed English woman and after reading the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of appearance. With the exception of the narrator all the visitors at the Pension are in awe of the Baroness’ sister.

In Frau Brechenmacher Attends a Wedding by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of gender roles, domination, submission, control, struggle, identity and tradition. Taken from her In a German Pension collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of control. Throughout the story Frau Brechenmacher is at the beck and call of her husband.

The Luft Bad is a short story by Katherine Mansfield: I think it must be the umbrellas which make us look ridiculous. – When I was admitted into the enclosure for the first time, and saw my fellow-bathers walking about very nearly “in their nakeds,” it struck me that the umbrellas gave a distinctly “Little Black Sambo” touch...

In A Birthday by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of responsibility, selfishness, gender roles, appearance, suffering and paralysis. Taken from her In a German Pension collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of responsibility. Andreas if anything thinks only of himself. True he goes to fetch Doctor Erb but apart from this Andreas takes no responsibility for the condition that Anna may be in.

In Frau Fischer by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of independence, letting go, acceptance change, trust, control, gender roles and conflict. Taken from her In a German Pension collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed British woman and after reading the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of independence.

A Blaze is a short story by Katherine Mansfield: “Max, you silly devil, you’ll break your neck if you go careering down the slide that way. Drop it, and come to the Club House with me and get some coffee.” - “I’ve had enough for to-day. I’m damp all through. There, give us a cigarette, Victor, old man. When are you going home?”

In At Lehmann’s by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of innocence, vulnerability, appearance, confusion and desire. Taken from her In a German Pension collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of innocence. Sabina believes Hans’ story about why his hands are so dirty even though the story is exceptionally far-fetched and borders on the impossible.

Skyboat Media presents The Best of Katherine Mansfield, an original compilation of stories from one of the defining writers of modernist fiction. Katherine Mansfield’s stories shine a light on the duality and the overpowering nature of psychology through her delicate, nuanced, and often stream-of-consciousness narration style. None of her stories seem to settle on just one theme; like life they encompass the intersectional nature of all moments, from the most minute and mundane to the most terrific and tragic.

Katherine Mansfield verlässt mit zwanzig Jahren ihre neuseeländische Heimat, um in London Schriftstellerin zu werden. Doch erst einmal landet sie schwanger in der Pension eines bayerischen Kurorts. Dort kann sie ihre Beobachtungsgabe literarisch ausleben, vor allem wenn sie auf Menschen trifft, die während der Kur das enge Korsett gesellschaftlicher Zwänge ablegen. Entstanden sind messerscharfe und sehr amüsante Erzählungen. Über scheinbare Banalitäten verdeutlichen sie tief verankerte Verhaltensmuster, Vorurteile und Klischees im beginnenden 20. Jahrhunderts. Nina Hoss leiht der Pionierin der modernen Short Story ihre Stimme.

When we read or listen, words can have a transforming effect. Our mood can alter in the space of a few sentences from joy to sadness. And not just our mood. These words can affect us physically, they can engage our emotions and even in their sadness bring a lump to our throat and tears to our eyes. Sometimes the relief can be palpable. Our authors, from Anton Chekhov, Stephen Crane, Willa Cather, Katherine Mansfield and a wealth of others, are well aware of what their talents will evoke. Genius has many names.

Katherine was born on the 14th October 1888 into a prominent family in Wellington, New Zealand, the middle child of five. At 19 Katherine left for England, where she met and befriended the modernist writers D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf, amongst others. She then travelled to Europe before returning to New Zealand. There she began to write the short stories that she would later become so famous for. But there was another less-heralded side to Katherine’s writings; that of poetry. Her verse certainly reflects much of the themes of her life and interests.