Amazon.com The author of The Blue Afternoon and Brazzaville Beach confirms his mastery of story with this wide-ranging collection. Traveling from Lisbon and London to contemporary Hollywood， from World War I to the present， these stories are singular and eclectic， each wholly distinct from the other. Their range of reference is also sweeping and varied， from Ludwig Wittgenstein to David Hockney， burgeoning fascism to burgeoning capitalism， foreign languages to Hollywood-speak， an imaginary Brazil to cinéma vérité. Their tone covers the spectrum from despair to high comedy. The true constants are Boyd's sharp eye and multifaceted prose. The New York Times Book Review， Michael Upchurch Whatever the refracting device， Mr. Boyd's ability to zero in on ordinary human foibles and woes--daydream delusions， cultural dislocations， emotional smash-ups--is swift and sure.... his eccentric wit and restless intelligence exert a powerful appeal. See all Editorial Reviews