Adrienne is living in a puritanical age, when the best compliment a childless woman can get is: Youd make a terrific mother. Thats when she goes to her friends Labor Day picnic and accidentally kills their baby.
The shock of this scene is expertly packed into two brief paragraphs. What follows is Adriennes retreat from life and her attempt to return to it.
Her sharp scepticism about the people around her is achingly funny. Yet beyond derision there is forgiveness and something along the lines of love.
Faber Stories, a landmark series of individual volumes, presents masters of the short story form at work in a range of genres and styles.
Bringing together past, present and future in our ninetieth year, Faber Stories is a celebratory compendium of collectable work.