The Collected Stories

“A devastating fine collection of Theroux’s short fiction that should establish him among the contemporary masters of the form”. — New York NewsdayWritten over a period of twenty-five years, the more than sixty stories in this volume are funny and sardonic, sensuous and evocative, streaked with terror and cruelty. Richly varied in tone and subject — ghost story, murder mystery, sexual farce, political satire, culture-clash parable — all glow with Paul Theroux’s intelligence, elegance, and ironic wit; with his marvelous sense of place; with his ear for dialogue; and with his tragicomic vision.

Theroux’s canvas stretches from London to Southeast Asia, Boston to Paris, Africa to Eastern Europe, Moscow to the tropics. He portrays colonials, emigres, diplomats, students, would-be writers, academics, and children. Many are trapped in alien situations or loveless relationships, or are overwhelmed by larger cultural tremors. Full of suspense and the unexpected, this first major retrospective of Theroux’s short fiction is “a welcomed second chance to read some of his best work” and confirms his reputation as “an irresistible storyteller”

Content:
World’s end
Zombies
The imperial icehouse
Yard sale
Algebra
The English adventure
After the war
Words are deeds
White lies
Clapham junction
The odd-job man
Portrait of a lady
The prison diary of Jack Faust
A real Russian ikon
A political romance
Sinning with Annie
A love knot
What have you done to our Leo?
Memories of a curfew
Biographical notes for four American poets
Hayseed
A deed without a name
You make me mad
Dog days
A burial at Surabaya
Polvo
Low tide
Jungle bells
Warm dogs
The consul’s file
Dependent wife
White Christmas
Pretend I’m not here
Loser wins
The flower of Malaya
The autumn dog
Dengué Fever
The South Malaysia pineapple growers’ association
The butterfly of the Laruts
The tennis court
Reggie Woo
Conspirators
The Johore murders
The tiger’s suit
Coconut gatherer
The last colonial
Triad
Diplomatic relations
Dear William
Volunteer speaker
Reception
Namesake
An English unofficial rose
Children
Charlie Hogle’s earring
The exile
Tomb with a view
The man on the Clapham omnibus
Sex and its substitutes
The honorary Siberian
Gone west
A little flame
Fury
Neighbors
Fighting talk
The Winfield wallpaper
Dancing on the radio
Memo.