The short story predates the novel by thousands of years. The author William Boyd fancifully imagines the short story as beginning "... when a band of Neanderthals hunkered around the fire at the cave mouth as the night is drawing in, and one of them says spontaneously: You'll never believe what happened to me today ...".

When our small group began in October 2015, with the title, "The Short Story and its Development", we set ourselves a rather more limited time frame. After considering the theory that there are, in the whole of literature, only seven basic plots, and also looking at a few stories from the Bible, we started in the 18th Century.

More than 10 years on, we have read and discussed a wide range of authors, including Chekhov, D H Lawrence, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Hemingway, James Joyce, Elizabeth Bowen, J D Salinger and Angela Carter. Most recently we have read Hilary Mantel, John Updike, V S Pritchett and Marie de France.

We usually choose up to three stories to read in advance of each monthly session. Although members' reactions to a particular author may vary, the ensuing discussions are always greatly enjoyed. There have been surprises en route, with unexpected stories from familiar authors as well as introductions to writers previously unknown to us.

We have looked at old and modern ghost stories, science fiction, fairy stories (traditional and modern) and any other genre that might arouse our interest.

If you would like more information, Bath u3a members can contact the Group Convenor via the Enquiry link at the top of this page. Non-members should contact the Groups Advisers for more information.