At the Bay

short story by Mansfield

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 21, 2026

Quick Summary

"At the Bay" is a short story by Katherine Mansfield, a New Zealand-born writer known for her distinctive prose style and psychological focus, influenced by Anton Chekhov.1

The story is part of Mansfield's collection The Garden Party, published in 1922. It is set in New Zealand and explores themes related to family, memory, and the contrast between life and death. The narrative often centers on the inner lives and emotional conflicts of its characters, revealing a subtle observation of human nature. Mansfield's work significantly influenced the development of the short story as a literary form.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Katherine Mansfield
…Party (1922), which includes “At the Bay,” “The Voyage,” “The Stranger” (with New Zealand settings), and the classic “Daughters of the Late Colonel,” a subtle account of genteel frustration. The last five years of her life were shadowed by tuberculosis. Her final work (apart from unfinished material) was published…
Read More
…Party (1922), which includes “At the Bay,” “The Voyage,” “The Stranger” (with New Zealand settings), and the classic “Daughters of the Late Colonel,” a subtle account of genteel frustration. The last five years of her life were shadowed by tuberculosis. Her final work (apart from unfinished material) was published…
Read More