Synopses & Reviews
One of the worlds great short-story writers emerges with a selection of stories from her past, a trove of hidden treasures.
Mavis Gallant moved from Montreal to Paris in 1950 to write short stories for a living. Since then she has continued to write, producing a remarkable body of work. In 1993, Robertson Davies said: “She has written many short stories. My calculation suggests that she has written in this form at least the equivalent of twenty novels.”
Many of her stories have been anthologized, notably in the 1996 classic Selected Stories, from which hundreds of pages had to be cut for reasons of length.
These “embarrassment of riches” stories are restored in this collection, along with many other neglected treasures from her past. Arranged in the order in which they appeared, they shed light on people living through most of the second half of the 20th century.
More important, they show one of the greatest short-story writers of our time at work, delineating a series of worlds with dramatic flair, dazzlingly precise language, a wicked wit, and a vivid understanding of the human condition.
Even Mavis Gallants most devoted admirers will find many stories here that they do not know. For newer admirers, this will prove to be a wonderful source of constant pleasure, leaving only the great mystery: How does she do it?
From the Hardcover edition.
About the Author
Mavis Gallant was born in Montreal in 1922. Her stories, regularly published in
The New Yorker and in books such as
From the Fifteenth District,
Home Truths, and
Across the Bridges, have earned her international acclaim and many prizes. She is a Companion of the Order of Canada, and lives in Paris.
From the Hardcover edition.
Table of Contents
Introduction by Alberto ManguelEditor's Note
Going Ashore
Wing's Chips
The Legacy
Bernadette
From Gamut to Yalta
Paola and Renata
Acceptance of Their Ways
Dido Flute, Spouse to Europe
Autumn Day
The Picnic
One Morning in May
Siegfried's Memoirs
Night and Day
A Day Like Any Other
A Revised Guide to Paris
The Cost of Living
La Vie Parisienne
Sunday Afternoon
Willi
One Aspect of a Rainy Day
French Crenellation
The Rejection
Madeline's Birthday
The Wedding Ring
Thieves and Rascals
Mousse
Travellers Must Be Content
On With the New in France
The Burgundy Weekend
Treading Water
Malcolm and Bea
From the Hardcover edition.