''The World and Other Places'' is a collection of short stories by

Jeanette Winterson Jeanette Winterson (born 27 August 1959) is an English writer. Her first book, '' Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit'', was a semi-autobiographical novel about a sensitive teenage girl rebelling against convention. Other novels explore gender pola ...

O.B.E The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

in the style of

postmodernism Postmodernism is an intellectual stance or Rhetorical modes, mode of discourseNuyen, A.T., 1992. The Role of Rhetorical Devices in Postmodernist Discourse. Philosophy & Rhetoric, pp.183–194. characterized by philosophical skepticism, skepticis ...

. Some of the contained short stories have been previously published in well known publications, such as ''

The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American weekly magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. Founded as a weekly in 1925, the magazine is published 47 times annually, with five of these issues ...

''. Winterson, like other postmodernists, plays with her words so they carry multiple layers and interpretation. She writes in short sentences and short fragments without obvious transitions. This collection questions the nature of narrative. The stories escape reality and often narrative conventions (one of the stories may be narrated by a dead character). Sexuality is often of particular importance with Winterson's stories, particularly "The Poetics of Sex" which concerns itself with a lesbian relationship from beginning to end, framed by the public awareness of lesbians. It was published in hardcover by

Jonathan Cape Jonathan Cape is a London publishing firm founded in 1921 by Herbert Jonathan Cape, who was head of the firm until his death in 1960. Cape and his business partner Wren Howard set up the publishing house in 1921. They established a reputation ...

in 1998 in the UK and by

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the following year in the US.

Short stories included

*"The 24-Hour Dog" *"Atlantic Crossing" *"The Poetics of Sex" *"The Three Friends" *"Orion" *"Lives of Saints" *"O'Brien's First Christmas" *"The World and Other Places" *"Disappearance I" *"Disappearance II" *"The Green Man" *"Turn of the World" *"Newton" *"Holy Matrimony" *"A Green Square" *"Adventure of a Lifetime" *"Psalms"

Prior publication

*"The Three Friends" in ''Columbia'' *"O'Brien's First Christmas" in ''

Elle ''Elle'' (stylized ''ELLE'') is a worldwide women's magazine of French origin that offers a mix of fashion and beauty content, together with culture, society and lifestyle. The title means "she" or "her" in French. ''Elle'' is considered the w ...

'' *"Adventure of a Lifetime" in ''

Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...

'' *"Orion" in ''

Granta ''Granta'' is a literary magazine and publisher in the United Kingdom whose mission centres on its "belief in the power and urgency of the story, both in fiction and non-fiction, and the story’s supreme ability to describe, illuminate and ma ...

'' and ''

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'' *"The Poetics of Sex" in ''

'' and '' Best of Young British Writers'' *"Psalms" in ''

New Statesman The ''New Statesman'' is a British political and cultural magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first connected with Sidney and Beatrice Webb and other leading members ...

'' *"The Green Man" and "Disappearance I" (originally titled "Tough Girls Don't Dream") in ''

'' *"Newton" appeared in the book '' The New Gothic'' edited by Patrick McGrath and Bradford Morrow *"Atlantic Crossing" was broadcast on

BBC Radio BBC Radio is an operational business division and service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a royal charter since 1927). The service provides national radio stations covering th ...

1998 short story collections British short story collections Novels by Jeanette Winterson Jonathan Cape books {{1990s-story-collection-stub