Marjorie Burren reads “Theft,” by Katherine Anne Porter. Texas-born journalist and author Porter may be best known for her 1962 best-selling novel Ship of Fools, but her reputation today rests on her short stories. “Theft,” first published in the literary quarterly The Gyroscope in 1929, features an unnamed female protagonist in New York City, and is plainly autobiographical. The story is about loss, and the “theft” of the title is not confined merely to money and material goods, but also to the loss of hope, trust, and self-respect.

Music: “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” Sonny Rollins.

Directed by Fredric Dannen.