Book excerpt: "These twenty-six stories illustrate Heinrich Boll's finely nuanced storytelling at its best. In stunning portraits of ordinary people, Boll creates a rich tapestry of the dark years in postwar Germany. There are tales of soldiers on leave, listlessly visiting bars and brothels; stories of children rendered with a simplicity that belies their emotional impact; and stark vignettes of people struggling to re-make their lives against the ruined landscape of war-devastated towns and villages. Representing Boll's youthful beginnings, this collection introduces the themes that inform his life-long literary accomplishments and the wit, intelligence, and lyricism that made Boll one of contemporary Europe's most acclaimed writers."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved