Author(s): William Boyd

Fiction

This is William Boyd's third volume of short stories following his acclaimed collections On the Yankee Station (1981) and The Destiny of Nathalie X (1995). Described as "the finest storyteller of his generation", Boyd shows his mastery of the form as these stories range widely through time and space. In a brilliant array of styles and narratives we move from 1930s Germany to Los Angeles in the Second World War, from contemporary Oxford to 19th century Russia. Whether in London or Amsterdam. Eastbourne or a Normandy village these stories explore and expose the fraught, funny, absurd, poignant and lovelorn lives of their many and varied characters.
Varengeville

Oliver frowned darkly and pushed his spectacles back up to the bridge of his nose, taking in his mother's suspiciously bright smile and trying to ignore Lucien's almost sneering, almost leering, grimace of pride and self-satisfaction. Lucien was his mother's 'friend': Oliver had decided he did not particularly like Lucien.

'What exactly is it?' Oliver said, playing for time.

'I believe people call it a bicycle,' Lucien said. Oliver noticed his mother thought this sally was amusing.

'I know that,' Oliver said, patiently, "but why are you giving me a bicycle?'

'It