A Bit of Singing and Dancing

When Susan Hill's first collection of stories, "The Albatross," (awarded the John Llywellyn Rhys Prize), appeared, the reviewer in the Times Literary Supplement compared her style to that of Tolstoy. With this collection, "A Bit of Singing and Dancing," she establishes herself as one of the very few novelists practising the art of the short story with total success. Whether she is relating the tragic series of events in the conservatory, or conjuring up the pathos of an unusual lodger, or portraying the ineffable Ossie in Venice, her powers of description are sharp, compassionate, and subtle. A French village, an English seaside town out of season, a hospital ward, these are some of her varied backgrounds. The eleven stories in this collection are a clear indication of Susan Hill's unique skill.