Publication of first book "Flowering Judas and Other Stories"

In November 1930, Katherine Anne Porter's first book, the short-story collection Flowering Judas and Other Stories, was published by Harcourt, Brace and Company. The slim volume, containing only six stories in its first edition (expanded in a later 1935 edition), immediately established Porter as one of the most exciting and technically accomplished new voices in American fiction.

The title story, "Flowering Judas," set amid the political turmoil of post-revolutionary Mexico, was particularly praised for its dense symbolism, psychological complexity, and unflinching examination of political idealism and betrayal. Critics recognized in Porter a rare stylistic precision and depth of characterization, comparing her favorably to major modernist short story writers of the era.

This publication was a watershed moment in Porter's career, transforming her from a promising periodical contributor into a critically celebrated author. Though commercially modest in its initial sales, the collection's critical reception was overwhelmingly positive and cemented Porter's reputation among serious literary circles. It laid the foundation for her subsequent works and her eventual status as one of the preeminent American short story writers of the twentieth century, known for a body of work notable more for its quality and craftsmanship than its quantity, as Porter published relatively few works over her long career.