The Stories, “Conversation Piece,” “First Love,” “Sings and Symbols,” and “Lance” originally appeared in The New Yorker.

Contents

SPRING IN FIALTA

A FORGOTTEN POET

FIRST LOVE

SIGNS AND SYMBOLS

THE ASSISTANT PRODUCER

THE AURELIAN

CLOUD, CASTLE, LAKE

CONVERSATION PIECE, 1945

“THAT IN ALEPPO ONCE …”

TIME AND EBB

SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF A DOUBLE MONSTER

MADEMOISELLE O

LANCE

Additional Stories

THE VISIT TO THE MUSEUM

LIK

ULTIMA THULE

A GUIDE TO BERLIN

THE VANE SISTERS

Notes