The Stories of Bernard Malamud

short stories by Malamud

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July 20, 2026

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"The Stories of Bernard Malamud" is a collection of short stories by American author Bernard Malamud, published in 1983. Malamud, born in Brooklyn in 1914, often drew inspiration from Jewish immigrant life, crafting parables that blended grim urban settings with moments of emotional depth, love, and self-sacrifice. His prose is characterized by its spare, compressed style, yet it can burst into metaphorical language.

Malamud's short stories, including those in collections like "The Magic Barrel" (1958), are celebrated for their ironic and humorous plots, often reflecting the rhythm and style of Yiddish folktales. These narratives frequently feature impoverished Jewish characters in New York City, who, despite bleak circumstances, are offered glimpses of hope and profound human connection.12

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Bernard Malamud
The Stories of Bernard Malamud appeared in 1983, and The People, and Uncollected Stories was published posthumously in 1989. The People, an unfinished novel, tells the story of a Jewish immigrant adopted by a 19th-century American Indian tribe. One critic spoke of “its moral sinew…
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The Stories of Bernard Malamud appeared in 1983, and The People, and Uncollected Stories was published posthumously in 1989. The People, an unfinished novel, tells the story of a Jewish immigrant adopted by a 19th-century American Indian tribe. One critic spoke of “its moral sinew…
Read More