The title story is a minor classic though it doesn't hold up very well if you do much thinking about it afterwards. The others are clever and always told in Kersh's highly engaging style. He would have been a fascinating person to have a few drinks with. But most of the stories revolve around trick endings when you find out that the speaker is actually a famous historical personage, or, in the case of a couple of stories, they are about Leonardo DaVinci. While all of these are interesting, they don't rise to the level of classics, and none of them have the weird atmosphere of the title story. So if you're attracted to this book by that one story, you are likely to be disappointed. The penultimate story, Clock Without Hands, is far far longer than the rest. A pleasant read, but not one that leaves you feeling your time has been best spent. For a British writer who is equally engaging, put provides a lot more in return for your time, try John Collier's Fancies and Goodnights. ( )