Description of a Struggle: The Vintage Book of Contemporary Eastern European Writing

by Michael March

Forty-three distinguished writers from sixteen Eastern European nations--including Poland, Russia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Albania--provide illuminating studies of the absurdities, tragedies, and conditions of their homelands and the world at large. Original.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

403 pages, Paperback

First published November 29, 1994

Reviews

[Rick]

If you are interested in beautiful writing that is, for the most part, ignored in the West, check out this collection of short stories from Eastern Europe. There are a few stories from each country in the region, and the writing matches or beats anything around for passion, desolation, and humor. Absolutely worth your time if you are interested in short stories and cultures that struggle from oppression.

[Matt Sabonis]

A really excellent anthology. There are some fine standouts in here, like Vivisection and Retina, while a small few of the stories come across as self-indulgent. But definitely worth reading.