The Body of the Soul: Stories

Ludmila Ulitskaya's new collection of stories, translated into English by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, explores the boundaries of our lives, tracing a delicate geography of the soul. The stories feature characters who question the existence of the soul and its connection to love, while a coroner encounters a physical anomaly, a divorcée experiences a transformation, and a librarian loses words.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 23 January 2024
Publisher: Yale University Press

A captivating collection of stories by the acclaimed Ludmila Ulitskaya, masterfully translated into English, has been released. This remarkable work has garnered critical acclaim, including being named a New Yorker Best of the Week Pick, a Library Journal choice for Best World Literature of 2023, and a World Literature Today Notable Translation of 2023.

"A magnificent collection... [by] a writer of boundless tenderness." - Geneviève Brisac, Le Monde

"Centrifugal, pensive, often elusive stories by one of the greatest living Russian writers (and leading anti-Putinist).... The stories are marvels of economy and the unexpected twist, each a memorable tour de force.... A welcome introduction to the short fiction of an essential writer." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

While we can feel, know, and study the body, the soul refuses definition. Where does it begin and end? What does the soul have to do with love? Does it exist at all, and if so, does it outlast the body? Or are the soul and body really one and the same?

These are the profound questions posed by the characters who inhabit this book of stories by the award-winning Russian writer Ludmila Ulitskaya. A woman believes that the best way to control her life is to control her death. A landscape photographer wonders if the beauty he has witnessed can triumph over decay. A coroner dedicated to science is confronted by a startling physical anomaly, a lonely divorcée experiences an extraordinary transformation, a librarian whose life is devoted to language finds words slipping away from her.

In these eleven stories, artfully rendered into English by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, Ulitskaya maps the edges of our lives, tracing a delicate geography of the soul.

This captivating collection invites readers to explore the depths of human existence, delving into the complexities of the human condition. With its rich language and vivid imagery, Ulitskaya's stories offer a profound reflection on the nature of love, loss, and the search for meaning in a world that often feels bewildering.

Whether you are a fan of short fiction or seeking a literary journey that will challenge your perspective, A New Collection of Stories by Ludmila Ulitskaya is a must-read. Prepare to be transported to a world of profound emotions and thought-provoking narratives that will leave you pondering the mysteries of the human soul long after you turn the last page.

Weight: 190g
Dimension: 127 x 197 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300270938