Winter's Tales 13. [antikvár]

EDITOR'S NOTE Very short novels are less uncommon than very long stories — perhaps because of the far greater rewards they can bring to their authors. But the latter species is not quite extinct, and I am delighted to be able to publish Patrick White's 'A Woman's Hand' to prove it. It seems to me to be quite excellent of its kind and to reaffirm strongly the claims of the story to be an art-form on its own, no matter what length the author's treatment demands. But, in spite of its excellence, I would not have wanted to publish 'A Woman's Hand' in Winter's Tales if I had felt that it would overshadow its shorter companions. I believe, on the contrary, that each story successfully demands the reader's attention and, I hope, appreciation. Last year's Critics' Choice was Tom Maclntyre's 'Epithalam-ion', and readers preferred Janice Elliott's 'The Perfectionist'. The usual postcard is included for readers to state their choice in this year's collection. Next year, by way of a change. Winter's Tales will be edited by my colleague, Kevin Crossley-Holland. a. d. m.