Chopin's The Awakening (1899) stirred controversy due to its candid exploration of an extramarital affair and the theme of female sexuality. Although it remained largely unread for much of the 20th century, it was rediscovered in 1972 and has since attained classic status.

"The Necklace" (1884) by Guy de Maupassant, considered France's greatest short-story writer, features a "trick ending" with tragic consequences.

Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, a New England writer contemporaneous with Chopin, was also recognized as a local colorist. Her story "The Revolt of 'Mother'" (1891) humorously yet seriously narrates a Massachusetts farm wife's quest for independence.

Sarah Orne Jewett, another contemporary of Chopin, wrote regional fiction. Her collection of sketches, The Country of the Pointed Firs (1896), which depicts life in a fictional Maine coastal village, is celebrated as an exemplary work of local color.

O. Henry, renowned for his "trick endings," wrote "The Gift of the Magi" (1905), perhaps the most famous of such stories featuring an ironic twist. It tells the tale of a young couple who, despite their poverty, strive to give each other meaningful Christmas gifts.

Mark Twain's 1894 novel Pudd'nhead Wilson explores miscegenation (cohabitation, sexual relations, or marriage between people of different races) in the antebellum South. A light-skinned slave swaps her baby with her white owner's child, leading to unforeseen consequences for the entire household. The novel is noted for its dark humor and commentary on the nature of racism.

Charles Chesnutt's story "The Wife of His Youth" (1899) delves into color prejudices among African Americans, particularly against those with darker skin.

Cane (1923), an experimental novel by Jean Toomer, captures the African American experience in the United States. The novel comprises various literary forms, including poems and short stories, and draws on the South's rural past and African-American folklore.