Buttered Side Down

This slim volume of Edna Ferber's first major compilation of short stories is full of some delightful short stories. Published in 1912, they reveal an American past that has changed in many aspects yet in terms of human relations, some things are timeless. Her insertion of herself as the writer, the strong women's characters, the contrast between the city (Chicago, New York) and the country (Michigan & Illinois for example) and her ironic yet positive twists in her stories make for enjoyable reading almost 100 years later. Wit and pathos mix nicely. My only complaint about this Walking Lion Press version is that two of the stories are edited together - presumably by mistake - in the middle of the book. I believe other editions (mostly print-to-order) have rectified that problem however.