In this astutely observed collection, Russell Smith charts the lives of several thirty-something men struggling to meet the adult challenges of career, home and family while they mourn the aspirations of their youth. Dominic discards the life he has built with Christine for a fantasy fling with her best friend and then sheepishly orchestrates a reconciliation. When his career as a music producer fails to materialize, Eddie begins secretly recording the dreams his girlfriend recites in her sleep. He publishes these transcribed tales, but his new-found literary fame is hollow and his shameless crime is inevitably exposed. Lionel embarks on an ill-fated tour of small-town Nova Scotia to promote his latest book. Stranded by a snow storm, the weary writer finds creative inspiration in the reminiscences of an elderly woman. In each of these stories, Russell Smith flawlessly captures the humour and the sadness of young men bridging the gulf between who they had hoped to be and who they have become.

ラッセル・スミスは本作で、青春の残照に縋りながら現実の壁にぶつかる三十代の男たちの、滑稽で切実な肖像を描き出しました。都会的な冷徹さとユーモアを湛えた筆致は、理想と現実の乖離に喘ぐ人間の脆さを容赦なく暴き立てます。虚栄心や挫折を包み隠さず映し出す物語の数々は、読者の心に潜む「かつての夢」を呼び覚ます、極めて鋭い文学的体験となるでしょう。 不格好な自己愛と、そこから生まれる孤独を肯定するような洞察こそが本作の神髄です。何者かになろうと足掻く登場人物たちの姿は、現代を生きる私たちの鏡に他なりません。冬の静寂に灯る創造の火花のように、彼らの悲哀に満ちた日常には、人生を再定義するための本質的な輝きが満ち溢れているのです。