First published 2000
A Russian emigrant woman battles with Stalin's daughter while memories of the old country surface. In Prague, a Czech outsider dreams of renting a cottage to wealthy Americans, hoping to fulfill his granddaughter's wishes. A retiree suffers through sleepless nights as noisy neighbors disturb his peace. A widower retreats to his childhood home and spends his days browsing the internet, where strange messages begin appearing in his inbox. British parliamentary committee members navigate political intrigue while ambitious young executives climb corporate ladders. English gay men seek connection and belonging. German police officers work their beats through familiar streets. These thirteen tales move across continents and social circles, from the corridors of power in London to the rural landscapes of the Rhineland. Each story captures people at crossroads, whether facing isolation, ambition, or the weight of the past.
Genres: short-stories, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: cross-cultural, found-family
Setting: Russia, Prague, London, Rhineland
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
322 pages · Paperback · BOURGOIS