First published 1987
A group of travelers gathers to share stories, each voice bringing its own world to life. The storytellers come from different walks of life, and their tales span fantasy realms, realistic portraits, and everything between. One narrator spins a tale of magical transformation, while another recounts a bitter family dispute. A third tells of romantic entanglements in foreign cities. Each story stands alone, yet together they form a tapestry of human experience. The characters who emerge from these tales include dreamers and schemers, lovers and wanderers, each facing their own struggles and desires. As the stories unfold, they reveal the complexity of human nature and the power of narrative itself. This collection captures the ancient tradition of communal storytelling, where diverse voices come together to explore life's mysteries and contradictions.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, multiple-narrators
Setting: Salzburg
Period: 20th-century
498 pages · Paperback · Virago Press Ltd