Add a Dash of Pity: And Other Short Stories

Exploring themes of nationalism, pride, heartbreak, aging, war, survival, misused authority and human fragility, raconteur Ustinov (The Old Man & Mrs. Smith) unmasks pompous poseurs and reveals obscure heroes in a series of eight humorous, often touching narratives whose protagonists span countries and walks of life. In the title story, a court-martialed British brigadier willingly lives in ignominy for the failures of the weak general he served but never liked. Bilious former film composer Erhardt Von Csumlay, ""The Man Who Took it Easy,'' now resentfully scrapes by as a gypsy violinist at a Hungarian restaurant in L.A. The xenophobic mayor of Alcanonde la Sagrada Orden brings disgrace to his town in pursuit of Spanish glory (""A Place in the Shade''). ""The Man in the Moon'' concerns British aerospace genius John Kermidge, who becomes a virtual political prisoner for viewing his discoveries as advances for the world rather than an edge in the international space race. Goodhearted Martha Gorbchek, a resident of Manhattan's ""little Czech colony,'' makes a tragic mistake in following the advice of a self-help talk-show panel (""A Word in the World's Ear''), and sheltered innocent Edwin Applecote, the voice of a rabbit on a BBC children's show, is similarly destroyed by authorities meant to protect him in the poignant ""There are 43,200 Seconds in the Day."" Ustinov writes with great wit and fills these memorable tales with clever, parenthetical insights along with a clear moral thrust. (Oct.)