In this companion to his Reader's Guide to William Faulkner: The Novels (1964), Volpe (emeritus, English, City College of New York) presents critical essays on Faulkner short stories divided into three periods from 1919-1954. As he notes, there are few full-length studies of Faulkner's short fiction and fewer still have stressed the introduction of characters in the Yoknapatawpha saga from the short stories. Describing his approach as an "eclectic offshoot of the New Criticism," the author treats Faulkner's symbolism and such themes as loss and betrayal of illusions. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)