Bliss iS Mansfield’s second book,and here she concentrates on innerexperience and the intangible emotions that issue from life’s absurdities．Emotional repercussions for characters involved in her stories alwaystake precedence over the action which causes them.‘Fe Ne Parle PasFranfais'moves towards the tragic end of an elopement,but the entirestory is shaped to highlight the depraved indifference of Raoul Duquette’sresponse to this，and so illuminates a peculiar personality．The samedevice is used to similar effect in‘Revelations’and in‘Sun and Moon’．

Bliss is a collection that sparkles with vitality and captures moments of telling significance. Widely recognised as one of the greatest writers of her period,Katherine Mansfield shows supreme control of her technique. With the deftness of a movie camera she zooms in with remarkable accuracy on those emotionally charged moments when an individual is most revealing.Her delicacy and the childlike quality of her vision lend a freshness and charm to her work that is enchanting.Conveying as much by omission as by statement, she creates a delicate structure that is reminiscent of Chekhov, and a work of art that is akin to lyric poetry.

Prelude

Je Ne Parle Pas FranCais

Bliss

The Wind Blows

Psychology

Pictures

The Man Without a Temperament

Mr Reginald Peacock"s Day

Sun and Moon

FeuiUe d"Album

A Dill Pickle

The Little Governess

Revelations

The Escape