The Collected Stories (World's End · Sinning with Annie · Jungle Bells · Diplomatic Relations

"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.