A Bad Business

<b>A collection of 6 thrilling short stories by the classic Russian author of <i>Crime and Punishment, </i>full of existential angst and wicked humor.<br> <br>“A sprightly new translation... [that] reminds us how extremely funny [Dostoevsky] could be.” –<i>Times Literary Supplement</i></b><br><br>With stories ranging from impossible fantasy to scorching satire, this wonderful collection from the renowned author of <i>Crime and Punishment</i> is the perfect introduction to one of the greatest of all fiction writers.<br><br>A civil servant finds a new passion for his work – and a taste for fame – when he's swallowed alive by a crocodile. A struggling writer stumbles on a cemetery where the dead still talk to each other. An arrogant but well-intentioned gentleman provokes an uproar at a subordinate's wedding, and in the marital bed. A widowed pawnbroker remembers the events leading to his marriage, in an attempt to understand his wife’s death. And a young boy finds unexpected salvation on a cold and desolate Christmas Eve.<br><br>This vivid new translation by Nicolas Pasternak Slater and Maya Slater illuminates Dostoyevsky's dazzling versatility as a writer. His remarkable short fiction swings from wickedly sharp humour to gripping psychological intensity, from cynical social mockery to moments of unexpected tenderness.<br><br>A microcosm of Dostoyevsky’s themes, these stories offer existential insight, an indictment of social inequality, and extremes of agony and ecstasy. They also showcase his lesser-known comic mode, in flashes of satirical brilliance and antic farce.  This collection provides a palette holding each shade of Dostoyevsky’s talent – and of human experience.