Gentleman's Relish

Reviews

Gale's writing is sharply evocative ...[he] writes with such humanity and warmth in his novels that it comes as a surprise that these short stories are told in a different, darker voice Dark, witty and often obliquely moving, these are tales of difficult fathers and gay sons, of lonely wives and random or deliberate acts of violence ... Gale is interested in power and the lack of it and his stories pull the reader in unexpected ways, offering worlds that are far from certain and where love or its absence can never be predicted Further evidence of Gale's stylistic deftness, insight and wonderfully eclectic range of interests... Even as rural life and perspectives dominate, other stories consistently tease out fresh territory... worth every penny The short story form suits Gale's ability to zoom in on the smallest nuances of a relationship Gentleman's Relish is a hugely enjoyable collection which proves that the short story is still very much alive ... Gale has a distinctive sense of humour and it is not unusual for something sinister to be lurking beneath the apparently unruffled and genteel surface of his narrative ... the stories in Gentleman's Relish adroitly utilise carefully observed details as the background to events that cause the reader to give a delicious shudder of horror at story's end Expand reviews