Short stories with an Irish accent, all subtle, some infused with a genteel nastiness, some a pastel-shaded sadness. Skilfully done. ( )

[This review refers to the Folio Society collection originally published in 2010, which is NOT the same collection published earlier by others under the same title]

A fine collection of short stories by an acknowledged master. Looking back over my notes, I ended up marking half of the 18 stories in this collection as exceptional - a high percentage relative to most collections I've read. These stories take place in Ireland or England, and some touch on the painful history between these two nations.

Trevor packs a lot of character and atmosphere in a few pages. There is a bittersweet character to these stories, but I'd propose that that's a characteristic common to the best short stories.

My note after reading "The Dancing-Master's Music" reads: "marvellous paeon to the power of music for one who hears!". (spoiler alert>>>) In "The Hill Bachelors", which may be the highlight of this collection, Trevor charts the subtle but inexorable transition from a young man with marriage prospects to a confirmed bachelor - happy to return to the land and to work it alone.

Os. ( )