Love and Night: Unknown Stories by Cornell Woolrich Paperback – September 17, 2011

I discovered Cornell Woolrich about ten years ago when a good friend gave me the book that contains "Rear Window." I've been a big fan of Woolrich's stories ever since. I recently bought the Kindle version of "Love and Night" and it is a lot of fun. The book includes a collection of fifteen short stories that were originally published in magazines in the 1920s. As the title indicates, all of the stories revolve around relationships, but most contain a healthy amount of suspense and mystery to satisfy Woolrich fans. I also discovered that Woolrich could be quite humorous. For example, the dialogue in "The Girl Next Door" had me laughing out loud as did several of the other stories. I've always read about Woolrich having a tough life, but these stories illustrate a clever wit and a quick tempo that must have put a smile on his face as well. I just may purchase a couple of real book versions of "Love and Night" in order to share the stories with others. Kindles are great, but I can't pass along a book without giving away the library! It's a fun read and worth the time.

these stories are fantastic!

This is a collection of fifteen short stories authored by the legendary Cornell Woolrich between 1926 and 1939. Editor Francis M. Nevins selected them based partially on the fact they are completely atypical of the kind of fiction Woolrich is famous for.Woolrich was the king of suspense. A master of terror, horror and dread. That is why he's still remembered and still read more than 40 years after his death. The stories which go to make up Love and Night are all either breezy romances or light comedies. (Very light if I could be permitted to get in a Woolrichian dig of my own.)Many of the selections utilize O'Henry type irony. Many have similar subject matter: rich boy meets poor girl, rich girl meets poor boy, homely girl meets handsome boy, timid girl meets brazen hoodlum, stage struck girl wants to break into show business, successful actress wants to break out of show business and become a housewife, etcetera.About four of the stories are moderately entertaining with the best of the lot probably Clip-Joint (1935) and The Girl Next Door (1937). The remaining eleven selections are just very silly and have little to offer.Bottom line: Most of this volume is completely forgettable and totally unremarkable. Only recommended to those readers who feel they just have to experience every word Cornell Woolrich ever wrote.

Excellent and insightful.