Long shadows : stories /

Well known for her pre-WW II novels and her postwar books of essays, short prose, and poetry, Kaschnitz, following the death of her husband in 1958, turned to radio plays and short stories until her death in 1974. Here 21 short stories, ably translated by Anni Whissen, depict the loneliness and insecurity of individual human destiny. Frequent themes are loss and anxiety--from the pains of childhood to the indignities of old age--written always from a women's perspective. The author sets seven of these stories in Italy and often employs Greek and Roman mythology, using long inner monologues, diary, and journal methods (Rilke-style) sometimes called controlled improvisation. "Long Shadows" shows Rosie meeting a boy (Pan) naked on the beach. Ashamed (as she is), he vanishes under a setting sun that casts long shadows. Other stories with equally apt titles follow: "Black Lake," "Red Net," "Ghosts," "Everlasting Light," and more. The 25-entry bibliography provides additional access to an author whose star continues to rise in the English-speaking world. Partly through readings on college campuses and partly due to German-government-sponsored lectures during the 1960s and '70s, Kaschnitz enjoys a modest, popular following in America. Suitable for sophisticated general and scholarly audiences; upper-division undergraduate and above. L. J. Rippley; St. Olaf College