A spectacular display of this key European writer''s early workThis dazzling collection of stories follows the individual adventures of a varied cast of characters and masterfully illustrates Calvino''s unique perspective and narrative gifts. As well as the thirteen tales from his Difficult Loves collection this volume also includes ''Smog'', ''A Plunge into Real Estate'' and ''The Argentine Ant''.''The quirkiness and grace of the writing, the originality of the imagination at work, the occasional incandescence of vision, and a certain loveable nuttiness make this collection well worth reading'' Margaret Atwood''If this is not a masterpiece of twentieth-century prose writing, I cannot think of anything better'' Gore Vidal on ''The Argentine Ant''