Five Women Book

It is actually the two books in one. The first one (in my edition) "The Unions" is written well before the second one "Three women". And it is evident, as "Three women" are better: mastery, sharper and economic but very expressive. However, all five stories in the book, being different, are really insightful, especially for a man writing about woman's feelings.

Tonka is a real masterpiece written based upon Musel's personal story. I hope to write more about it in the review of the brilliant collection My Mistress's Sparrow is Dead: Great Love Stories, from Chekhov to Munro when i have more time for myself.

One can see the shimmering genius in these 5 stories. It is a pity he did not have a chance to finish "The man without qualities" properly. Powerful as it is it might have been even better...