By Patrick Modiano, from Livret de famille, an untranslated novel that was published in 1977 by Éditions Gallimard. Modiano’s most recent books in translation, Such Fine Boys and Sundays in August, were published this…

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On the eve of independence, Sir William drove away from the estate in his cream-colored Morris and left his fortunes in the hands of Mr. Balakumar, the Tamil manager, who…

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By Fleur Jaeggy, from I Am the Brother of XX, a collection of short stories that will be published next month by New Directions. Jaeggy is the author of several…

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Jed came downstairs. He worked mostly in the sleeping loft, writing serious journalism. His current project was about a friend’s imprisonment on charges related to terrorism. He said, “Laurie.” “What?”…

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By Antonio di Benedetto (1922–86), from Nest in the Bones, a collection of his stories that was published this month by Archipelago Books. Di Benedetto was an Argentine journalist and the…

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Mrs. B’s Baby Village Day Care was on a frontage road between a mattress wholesaler and a knife outlet. There were six or so babies as regulars and another one…

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This is the story. Kim Le Bouedec and I run the Finchley Mint. And I’ve just kissed his wife.

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By Alexander Kluge, from a manuscript in progress. Kluge is a filmmaker and a writer. A collection of short stories, Drilling Through Hard Boards, will be published next month by…

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I was present when someone asked the poet Sophocles: “How’s your sex life, Sophocles? Can you still make love to a woman?” “Shush, man,” the poet replied. “I am very…

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