DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

The Master of Chaos and Other Fables

Pauline Melville author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Sandstone Press Ltd

Published:1st Jul '21

Should be back in stock very soon

The Master of Chaos and Other Fables cover

A Nobel laureate struggles to write a convincing suicide note; a hobo sings of hope in the darkest hours after the Grenfell disaster; in a strange post-death waiting room, Anna Karenina and Emma Bovary exchange confidences, and a scientist finally discovers the appalling truth about a boyhood friendship. Unpredictable, haunting, with a streak of black humour, this collection ranges across the world, from Petersburg to Guyana, Syria to London, Argentina to Edinburgh. Its diverse characters are caught up in wars or revolution, escaping the past or finally returning to confront it.

‘In this virtuoso performance, Pauline Melville shows us a world in upheaval, and reminds us that that’s where we live.’


A collection of 14 brilliant, diverse and utterly intriguing short stories, laced through with dark humour.

* The Herald *

Darkly funny, these stories are political and bold, refusing to shy away from dictators, occupations or revolutions.

* Mslexia *

Terrific read beautifully written.


AMAZING.


I enjoyed this short story collection, though can't put my finger on exactly why. Well worth a read.


Fresh and totally absorbing... The perfect read for yet another globally turbulent summer.

* Ancient to Future *

A compelling and unique short story collection.

* readers_retre

ISBN: 9781913207540

Dimensions: 225mm x 145mm x 20mm

Weight: 320g

208 pages