Life is an Operetta: And Other Short Stories

Witty, urbane and set in a wide array of international locales, these nine stories from the venerable British actor and entertainer work best when Ustinov pokes sly fun at a variety of manners and conventions. The better stories include the nostalgic ""Dreams of Papua,"" a send-up of a Cold War-era summit meeting between a folksy U.S. president and his Soviet counterpart in which the common interests of the two nations hinge on the president's interest in stamp collecting. ""The Assassins,"" meanwhile, offers a light take on the concept of retirement for those who kill for a living. The title story shifts the subject to romance, tracking the ups and downs of a European actress and singer with a wandering eye while her long-suffering partner tries to deal with his mate's propensity for philandering. In ""The Gift of a Dog,"" Ustinov turns his wit to the foibles of marriage as he chronicles the effect of a rambunctious pet on a pair of mismatched newlyweds. The lesser stories get bogged down in tedious, minor plot details, detracting considerably from the humor. Ustinov's wit is a bit on the mannered side, but those who admire graceful prose and an intricate knowledge of the ways of the world will find a variety of subtle rewards in this collection. (July)