The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story is a 2021 short story anthology edited by John Freeman. Gathering 50 years of short stories, the book was published by Penguin Press.
Kirkus Reviews called the book "A well-selected anthology of short fiction, ranging from long to flash, representing the last half-century" and "A fresh gathering that highlights the work of mostly well-known story writers through their lesser-known works."
New York Journal of Books said that the book would succeed in joining the existing array of short story anthologies, like <u>The Best American Short Stories</u> and the O. Henry Award compilations, thanks to its emphasis on the "modern" rather than the "best," its "literary star" editor in Freeman, and its table of contents serving as "a literal who's who of modern fiction."
Smoke Signals called Freeman's vision for the anthology "adventurous" for its juxtaposition of more established names with lesser-known ones and lauded his superb effort of "seeking in a modest way to re-shape the canon."