A teenage girl finds unexpected sexual freedom on a trip to Amsterdam. A woman trapped at a dinner party comes up against an ugly obsession. The stories in Free Love are about desire, memory, sexual ambiguity and the imagination. In the harsh light of dislocation, the people in them still find connections, words blowing in the street, love in unexpected places. Ali Smith shows how things come together and how they break apart. She disconcerts and affirms with the lightest touch, to make us love and live differently.

'the greatest short story writer who has ever lived' Raymond Carver's unequivocal verdict on Chekhov's genius has been echoed many times by writers as diverse as Katherine Mansfield, Somerset Maugham, John Cheever and Tobias Wolf. While his popularity as a playwright has sometimes overshadowed his achievements in prose, the importance of Chekhov's stories is now recognized by readers as well as by fellow authors. Their themes - alienation, the absurdity and tragedy of human existence - have as much relevance today as when they were written, and these superb new translations capture their modernist spirit. Elusive and subtle, spare and unadorned, the stories in this selection are among Chekhov's most poignant and lyrical. They include well-known pieces such as 'The Lady with the Little Dog', as well as less familiar work like 'Gusev', inspired by Chekhov's travels in the Far East, and 'Rothschild's Violin', a haunting and darkly humorous tale about death and loss. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

The novel “First Love” was Turgénieff’s favourite work, as he more than once confessed. What the author prized in this purely intimate but beautifully finished story was its fidelity to actuality; that is to say, he prized the personal recollections of early youth. In that respect this story has a prominent interest for readers, since it narrates—according to the testimony of the author—an actual fact in his life, and that without the slightest artificial colouring.[1] To what degree Turgénieff’s testimony is credible, remarks one critic, is a question which can be rightly decided only by biographical documents. Famous writers are particularly inclined by nature to romantic coquetry with their own personalities—a characteristic which was, apparently, to some extent, inherent in Turgénieff, despite his renowned modesty. Famous writers are fond of leading their contemporaries—and still more posterity—astray with regard to the reflection of intimate details of {vi}their lives in their artistic works.... At any rate, Russian artistic productions, in which the authors have endeavoured to set forth biographical details, must be scrutinised with extreme cautiousness. The author, while imagining that he is thoroughly sincere, may involuntarily indulge in inventions concerning himself. But in its literary aspect this story indubitably is one of Turgénieff’s masterpieces, and in it the original character of its chief heroine, Princess Zinaída Zasyékin, is depicted with remarkable clearness and charm.... The artist threw off this light and elegant little intimate study by way of relaxation after “On the Eve,” a romance dealing with a broad social problem, and by way of preparation for a new work, still more serious in intention, “Fathers and Children.”

Blind Love a blinded soldier finds love, danger, and his heritage, despite the attempts of his lovers ex-husband. The fish pond becomes a grave for serial killers latest victim. Reaper is a story that reaches into the paranormal, as hatred and revenge take over a young mind. Sarah is raped and murdered and her killer escapes to the new world across the Atlantic where he builds a fortune from slavery.

Experience the power of masterful storytelling with "Pandemic Love and Other Stories". This compelling book invites you to step into the vividly drawn world of four short stories, each depicting people facing crises in their lives. Gaurav tries to save the life of his friend in "Pandemic Love". Nirav is haunted by separation from daughter, who has been taken away by his estranged wife. In "Voices", a surgeon struggles with a debilitating condition and must choose between her work and risking her patients' lives. "His Secret" explores the painful reality of a mother grappling with her son's hidden struggles. "M4M Seeking LTR" follows a middle-aged gay man who has spent his entire life seeking a long-term relationship, now facing old age and mortality. Meanwhile, in "The Curse of the Astral Body", Ramya's family falls apart as she seeks to escape strange coincidences and vicissitudes, wavering between faith healing and psychiatric help. Through the captivating storytelling of these unforgettable characters, you will be transported into their world, grappling with the complexities of love, loss, and the passage of time. With a writing style that is at once spare and lyrical, the author conveys deep emotion with just a few well-chosen words, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. https://www.ananyaseo.com/pandemic-love-and-other-stories/

PITHY STORIES FROM MOZAMBIQUE AND ZIMBABWE: The Pub Crawl, The Vengeful Matamba, Stoking the Fire, The Feast, The Totem and Dance My Love will leave you craving for more of African short stories. You will be jumping from the literary frying pan into the fire.