In this new collection of stories Tobias Wolff is a fascinated observer of how poeple rewrite their own histories- the war veteran who can never quite reveal his true relief about the death of a buddy; the English teacher who finds it easier to explain away his bruises with two imaginary black muggers than the embarrassing bar-room reality, or the man who writes his own obituary because he's the only one who really cares. Revenge is another urge to put things right which, in Wolff's hands, takes curious forms like the son who joins the army to show his beloved mother she has married the wrong man or the disappointed suitor who takes decorative revenge on a girlfriend's house which is so traditional 'it was like a house Russian spies would practise being American in.' Wolff is adept at skewering the tweakers and compulsive critics of this world- the soldier irresistibly compelled to tell his new lieutenant what an asshole he is, or the book reviewer known for his weary savagery who can't stop laughing at the bad dialogue of a bank robber.