John Galsworthy has earned an undisputed place in the history of the short story. A skillful and prolific short-story writer, he claims a place in the memories of freshmen for his much-anthologized short stories: "Quality," "The Japanese Quince," "The Apple Tree," and "A Stoic." Shortly before his death he was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature.

Galsworthy's childhood was privileged and prosperous. The second child of John Galsworthy, a London solicitor, and Blanche Bartleet, he was educated by a string of governesses until at the age of nine he was enrolled in school at Bournemouth. He was apparently happy at school, but not particularly noteworthy--a typical boy among other typical boys. Mr. Galsworthy decided that his son was to practice law, and the young man obediently, if not enthusiastically, studied for the bar. When an early love affair ended unhappily for Galsworthy, his father sent him to Canada...