I read this on The Story Prize blog after seeing it on The Outlet blog. Gurganus’ points about conciseness in fiction in these hectic times are hard to argue with. The novella may be the most perfect form of literary art in the 2010s. But I think it always has been, and he makes that point, too, that many of the greatest works of literature are actually novellas. A few of my favorites: Of Mice and Men; The Pearl; Tristessa; Bartleby, the Scrivener; Wyoming; The Ballad of the Sad Café. The list could go on and on.