Masterplots II: Short Story Series provides penetrating discussions of the content, themes, structure and techniques of 1,490 stories from every inhabited region in the world: North America, Africa, Asia, West Indies, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and other European countries. Each article begins with birth and death dates, type and time of the plot, locale, principal characters and first-publication information. A synopsis of the story, critical discussion and analysis of the stylistic devices is also included.