Two travelling musicians attempt to come to terms with a nightmare scenario at home; restless teenagers run riot during lockdown, with drastic consequences; Albert Einstein’s reputation grows, as does his absence as a father; a cantankerous ninety-nine year old contributes to the chaos of a night ward....
Dilys Rose has been compared to Katherine Mansfield. An accomplished novelist and short-story writer, Rose’s long-celebrated mastery of the form allows her to draw through lines of loss and longing, uncertainty and hope. She conjures the essence of a situation with insight, economy and dark wit, and vividly presents an uncompromising view of the world where everyone is searching but few find what they hope for. Each story vividly creates the inner world of a compelling, yet disparate cast of characters, and these brief glimpses into the lives of others leave a lasting afterglow.
Two travelling musicians attempt to come to terms with a nightmare scenario at home; restless teenagers run riot during lockdown, with drastic consequences; Albert Einstein’s reputation grows, as does his absence as a father; a cantankerous ninety-nine year old contributes to the chaos of a night ward....
Dilys Rose has been compared to Katherine Mansfield. An accomplished novelist and short-story writer, Rose’s long-celebrated mastery of the form allows her to draw through lines of loss and longing, uncertainty and hope. She conjures the essence of a situation with insight, economy and dark wit, and vividly presents an uncompromising view of the world where everyone is searching but few find what they hope for. Each story vividly creates the inner world of a compelling, yet disparate cast of characters, and these brief glimpses into the lives of others leave a lasting afterglow.
'The author's eye is so sharp, her hearing so acute, her imagination so lively. This is a very good collection indeed. Even some of those who say they don’t care for short story collections might well set their prejudice aside and find much to delight them.'
‘Many of Rose’s characters face impossible choices, but her unity of vision does not lead to a narrow or repetitive collection. On the contrary, the stories are wonderfully far-ranging.’
‘The stories have a steely rectitude and an uncompromising determination to face down humiliation and inequality … economical, moral and compassionate.’