A collection of short stories from Penelope Lively, curated by the author herself and featuring two new longer stories as bookends, Metamorphosis is a magnificent selection of fiction. The brilliant observations of the human experience and relationships are expertly crafted in two of my personal favourites, The Emasculation Of Ted Roper and The Slovenian Giantess. Yet each story has its own personal merits, offering a wealth of interesting characters that convey the era in which they were written whilst remaining relevant to this day.

With a writing career spanning 40 years, a prolific list of published work for both adults and children to her name, Lively was shortlisted for the Booker Prize twice, later winning in 1987 with her novel Moon Tiger. There is so much appreciation in the craft and style of each personal story, and this reflective selection of stories are as enjoyable now as they would have been at the time they were originally published. The form of the short story can be difficult to get right but from this truly great writer, you’ll discover the perfect mix of stories to be enjoyed during the dark winter nights.