Pack of Cards

As she delves into the minutiae of her characters' lives, Lively introduces the reader to slivers of the everyday world that are not always open to observation.

"A splendid bargain—34 stories, more than twice as many as in most current collections—and every one a burnished, top quality
treat. One learns a great deal about a wide variety of English characters and class incompatibilities, but Lively aims first of all to entertain rather than teach. One might also say she aims to illuminate rather than shock or surprise, and in this she succeeds just as admirably. Her vision is clear and informed, keenly perceptive, wise not warped. Some characters come off wickedly skewered but listen to them prattle on and you know they deserve it. In the tradition of the great British short story masters, love, loneliness and loss, ambition and selfishness, the comic and sinister, English ghosts, the horrors of boarding schools, the offhand cruelty of adults are themes that preoccupy her. Every reader will have favorites—perhaps 'A Clean Death,' inspired and haunting, creating the impact of a novel in a dozen pages, or 'Ghost of a Flea,' a chilling tale of a neurotic girl who fastens on to people. And then there's George, a marvelous upper-class London bus conductor, who twits his snobbish sister-in-law with the greatest relish. This may be the perfect book to take on a long weekend visit, but the thoughtful hostess will leave a copy on the bedside table just in case." Reviewed by Andrew Witmer, Virginia Quarterly Review (Copyright 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review)

Nothing missing but the samovar — The voice of God in Adelaide Terrace — Interpreting the past — Servants talk about people: gentlefolk discuss things — Help — Miss Carlton and the pop concert — Revenant as typewriter — Next term, we'll mash you — At the Pitt-Rivers — Nice people — A world of her own — Presents of fish and game — A clean death — Party — Corruption — Venice, now and then — Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be — The darkness out there — The pill-box — Customers — Yellow trains — 'The ghost of a flea' — The art of biography — What the eye doesn't see — The emasculation of Ted Roper — A long night at Abu Simbel — Bus-stop — Clara's day — The French exchange — The dream merchant — Pack of cards — The Crimean hotel — A dream of fair women — Black dog.