J.I.M. Stewart Short Story Collections books in order

Q: "What is the difference between J.I.M. Stewart and Michael Innes?"

"J.I.M. Stewart and Michael Innes are the same person. Stewart used the Innes pen name for detective fiction and his real name for literary work including these story collections."

Q: "Are these mystery stories?"

"These are literary short stories rather than detective fiction. Stewart's non-Innes work tends toward literary fiction drawing on his academic background and interests."

Q: "What themes do these stories explore?"

"The collections reflect Stewart's Oxford background with stories exploring academic life, literary themes, and the English social world he observed as a professor and scholar."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Cucumber Sandwiches, And Other Stories	1969	Michael Innes	Buy
2	The Bridge at Arta	1982	Michael Innes	Buy
3	My Aunt Christina	1983	Michael Innes	Buy
4	Parlour Four	1986	Michael Innes	Buy
5	Cucumber Sandwiches	2011	Michael Innes	Buy

These short story collections represent J.I.M. Stewart’s literary fiction, separate from his detective novels written as Michael Innes. The Oxford professor brought his academic sensibility to short fiction that explored different territory than his mysteries.

Stewart’s literary stories draw on his background as a scholar and don. The collections feature academic settings, literary allusions, and the observational wit that also characterized his Innes novels but applied to non-mystery subjects.

For readers who know Stewart only through Inspector Appleby, these collections reveal another dimension of his writing. The same intelligence and style appear in a different context, showing the range of an author who successfully worked in multiple genres.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between J.I.M. Stewart and Michael Innes?

J.I.M. Stewart and Michael Innes are the same person. Stewart used the Innes pen name for detective fiction and his real name for literary work including these story collections.

Are these mystery stories?

These are literary short stories rather than detective fiction. Stewart’s non-Innes work tends toward literary fiction drawing on his academic background and interests.

What themes do these stories explore?

The collections reflect Stewart’s Oxford background with stories exploring academic life, literary themes, and the English social world he observed as a professor and scholar.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order