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Two short stories: an author must judge a short story competition; and a misanthropic recluse compiles ...
'A slender, intelligent fiction written in ravishing prose-If I read a better novel this year, I shall ...
Shena Mackay is the author of novellas, collections of short stories and several novels. Heligoland was shortlisted for the Orange Prize.
'A slender, intelligent fiction written in ravishing prose-If I read a better novel this year, I shall think myself lucky' Sunday Telegraph
A wonderful collection from one of our greatest short-story writers
Three short stories: a writer gives a lecture in a provincial town and encounters a figure from his past; two elderly siblings discover their sister's weird secret; and an elderly brother and sister find ...
Four short stories: a seafaring man has a parrot with an illustrious past; a university lecturer endures a lonely Saturday night; a blind date takes an unexpected turn; and a lady must look after her eight ...
Three short stories: a magical tale about Christmas; a man who loves wasp nests is forced to arrange an extermination; and a retired man finds real happiness with his grandchildren.
Four short stories: Louisa's old hometown sings its swan song; Hubert and Milly are immortalised on canvas as the embodiments of ennui; a timid grandmother is embarrassed by the friendliness of her local ...
Two short stories: a schoolboy grows tired of his relationship with an aging poet; and a pair of neighbouring schools trade insults but share a cat.
Two short stories: a recovering alcoholic tries to enjoy some peace an quiet while her daughter is at college; and two young sisters escape their overbearing stepdad for a day and search for their estranged ...
Two short stories: a crime writer on a train journey ponders the death of her characters; and a man trawls his girlfriend's apartment looking for hidden fragments which might reveal her deepest secrets ...
Two short stories: a lonely woman is pushed to breaking point by her unkind neighbours; and, at her first husband's funeral, Violet Greene reminisces about their colourful life together.