The Cost of Living: Early and Uncollected Stories (New York Review Books Classics)

A New York Review Books Original Mavis Gallant is renowned as one of the great short-story writers of our day. This new gathering of long-unavailable or previously uncollected work presents stories from 1951 to 1971 and shows Gallant's progression from precocious virtuosity, to accomplished artistry, to the expansive innovatory spirit that marks her finest work. "Madeleine's Birthday," the first of Gallant's many stories to be published in The New Yorker, pairs off a disaffected teenager, abandoned by her social-climbing mother, with a complacent middle-aged suburban housewife, in a subtly poignant comedy of miscommunication that reveals both characters to be equally adrift. "The Cost of Living," the extraordinary title story, is about a company of strangers, shipwrecked over a chilly winter in a Parisian hotel and bound to one another by animosity as much as by unexpected love. Set in Paris, New York, the Riviera, and Montreal and full of scrupulously observed characters ranging from freebooters and malingerers to runaway children and fashion models, Gallant's stories are at once satirical and lyrical, passionate and skeptical, perfectly calibrated and in constant motion, brilliantly capturing the fatal untidiness of life. Read more... Abstract: A New York Review Books Original Mavis Gallant is renowned as one of the great short-story writers of our day. This new gathering of long-unavailable or previously uncollected work presents stories from 1951 to 1971 and shows Gallant's progression from precocious virtuosity, to accomplished artistry, to the expansive innovatory spirit that marks her finest work. "Madeleine's Birthday," the first of Gallant's many stories to be published in The New Yorker, pairs off a disaffected teenager, abandoned by her social-climbing mother, with a complacent middle-aged suburban housewife, in a subtly poignant comedy of miscommunication that reveals both characters to be equally adrift. "The Cost of Living," the extraordinary title story, is about a company of strangers, shipwrecked over a chilly winter in a Parisian hotel and bound to one another by animosity as much as by unexpected love. Set in Paris, New York, the Riviera, and Montreal and full of scrupulously observed characters ranging from freebooters and malingerers to runaway children and fashion models, Gallant's stories are at once satirical and lyrical, passionate and skeptical, perfectly calibrated and in constant motion, brilliantly capturing the fatal untidiness of life 'In this collection, we witness the miracle of a great writer's birth and brisk maturation, a blossoming incapable of withering, and that remains masterful and truthful today'Jhumpa Lahiri'Gallant is one of the great short-story writers of our time'Michael OndaatjeMavis Gallant is admired and beloved as one of the masters of the modern short story. Selected from early collections and the New Yorker, where many of the author's stories have appeared over the last fifty years, and with an introduction by Jhumpa Lahiri, The Cost of Living reveals a writer coming into her own.The stories span the first twenty years of a long career, from the poise and poignancy of her very first published story,'Madeleine's Birthday'(1951), to the masterly exploration of the passage of time in the long story'The Burgundy Weekend'(1971) that appears here in book form for the first time.Gallant's sensibility has always been cosmopolitan and these stories take us from Quebec to postwar Europe, via New York and New England, before settling, like their author, in Paris. Everywhere the book reveals Gallant's subtly penetrating psychological insight, wit and unsentimental sympathy for the excluded and the exiled, not to mention her wonderfully wicked sense of humour. Mavis Gallant Is Admired And Beloved As One Of The Masters Of The Modern Short Story. Selected From Early Collections And The New Yorker, Where Many Of The Author's Stories Have Appeared Over The Last Fifty Years, And With An Introduction By Jhumpa Lahiri, The Cost Of Living Reveals A Writer Coming Into Her Own. The Stories Span The First Twenty Years Of A Long Career, From The Poise And Poignancy Of Her Very First Published Story, 'madeleine's Birthday' (1951), To The Masterly Exploration Of The Passage Of Time In The Long Story 'the Burgundy Weekend' (1971) That Appears Here In Book Form For The First Time. Gallant's Sensibility Has Always Been Cosmopolitan And These Stories Take Us From Quebec To Postwar Europe, Via New York And New England, Before Settling, Like Their Author, In Paris. Everywhere The Book Reveals Gallant's Subtly Penetrating Psychological Insight, Wit And Unsentimental Sympathy For The Excluded And The Exiled, Not To Mention Her Wonderfully Wicked Sense Of Humour. Content: Madeline's birthday -- One morning in May -- The picnic -- A day like any other -- Going ashore -- Autumn day -- Thieves and rascals -- Bernadette -- Travellers must be content -- Acceptance of their ways -- Rose -- The cost of living -- Night and day -- One aspect of a rainy day -- Sunday afternoon -- Willi -- Malcolm and Bea -- The rejection -- The wedding ring -- The Burgundy weekend.