Alice Munro: The Canadian writer is a master of the short story, whose spare prose and emphasis on character over plot have earned her comparisons to Anton Chekhov. Her work includes such acclaimed collections as "Dance of the Happy Shades" (1968) and "The View from Castle Rock" (2006), and she has been a frequent presence in the New Yorker. She's picked up a Man Booker Prize for her achievements. Alas, a Nobel still eludes her.
