Graham Swift's stories deftly navigate the theme of human conflict, both military and existential, demonstrating the emotional toll it takes. "The Next Best Thing" portrays a British soldier's search for his Jewish relatives through a German records keeper, revealing the remnants of guilt and denial. "Blushes" reflects on the desolation of the Covid pandemic, likening it to war against disease. "Hinges" offers introspection at a father's funeral, drawing poignant comparisons between a door and a coffin. Swift showcases his literary agility in addressing themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time.
"In Blushes the ghost world we're shown is the suddenly empty one created by the Covid pandemic, with its unpeopled streets and rising death toll."
"Denial and guilt vie chillingly in a tale about the agony of looking back when there are only pathetic little scraps of paper to be found."
"But she couldn't have thought, then, what her 49-year-old self could think: that 90 years was the length of a decent human life..."
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