...begins with a story set in the sort of mythical small town of plenty that Krasikov's characters might dream of...Here Groff peers behind the white picket fence to reveal a nastier underside; other stories take in World War II, and transpose the tale of Heloise And Abelard to New York in 1918.

Groff's first collection of stories, Delicate Edible Birds, demonstrates the often surprising ways that quality can bear fruit. Bringing together nine stories, it moves almost effortlessly through different locales, from Templeton to Argentina, post-first world war New York to contemporary America ... in her strongest writing, Groff echoes the magic of her gothic forebears

Delicate Edible Birds is wonderfully imaginative, subtle and precise, brimming over with brave and fascinating women... A dazzling collection to make all those readers who are wary of short stories think again.

Patrick McGuinness's magisterial anthology teems with universes from each of its 84 authors ... There is so much to discover in these stories - both history and food for short story lovers everywhere.

It's hard to imagine a better introduction to French literature than this glorious two-volume bran tub of short fiction ... outstanding masterpieces all ... There's a welcome playfulness throughout.

Impeccably edited by Patrick McGuinness. The first volume stretches from the 16th century to the early 20th century ... Volume two takes us from there to the early 21st century, featuring more women and non-white authors than the first volume. Treat yourself: buy both.

What a collection it is ... Both volumes fizz with the enthusiasm with which McGuinness has assembled stories that range across centuries and continents ... This will surely turn out to be the definitive anthology of French-language short fiction.

Tales with a certain ooh la la ... an eclectic, often steamy collection charting the history of the French short story [with] some gems by less famous figures ... high marks for quality and variety.