Author:Javier Marías
Celebrated as one of the greatest writers of his time, Javier Marías is best known for his spy trilogy, Your Face Tomorrow, which has been compared to Proust and hailed as one of the great modern European novels. In his first short story collection for fifteen years, he brings together tales which span his entire writing career : haunting tales from the very edges of life.
An obscenely fat man obsessed with his much younger lover endlessly videotapes her every move, a ghost is condemned to repeatedly resign from his job, and a man of impeccable refinement meets his doppelganger at a work dinner, resulting in ghoulish life changes for both men.
[Marias] has a rare ability to haunt the imaginations of his readers. He is more than just a storyteller - he's a manipulator of the psyche who can jolt his readers into new states of perception. Quite a feat for any writer
—— New York Journal of BooksThis is a rewarding collection by one of contemporary literature's masters
—— Alex Rayner , GuardianThe mannered, precise prose is typically well crafted and the observational comedy at its sharpest. . . Marias thrives in the domain of the mild macabre
—— Times Literary SupplementClever and strange... A fascinating patchwork of characters and stories
—— The TimesMirroring ghosts, and doubles are all present in these haunting short stories by the celebrated Spanish author Javier Marías... Superb
—— Lesie McDowell , Independent on SundayIt's a perfect book
—— Victoria Hislop , Easy LivingIndia's finest writer in English
—— IndependentShe is one of the best English language novelists of modern times
—— Daily TelegraphOne of the greatest short story writers alive
—— Ben RiceOne of the most important writers alive... enchantingly witty
—— Clive JamesEtgar Keret's extraordinary imagination sets the reader free from slogans and headlines
—— Linda GrantOne of the greatest short story writers alive
—— Ben Rice