Il paradiso  

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Il paradiso (1970) is a collection of short stories by Italian writer Alberto Moravia. It was translated into English as Paradise and Other Stories, translated by Angus Davidson, 1971. All the stories are told from the first person singular perspective.

The first story in the series, "A Calculated Risk" ("Rischio calcolato") is about "a woman whose love of masochism forces her to provoke her husband into attacking her — and each new provocation brings her closer and closer to the threat of death. The woman is still alive when the story ends, but the reader wonders just how much longer she can be lucky at this psychological game of Russian roulette." (Best sellers: from the U.S. Government Printing Office: Volume 33 ) As such, the story is reminiscent of the another Moravia short story, "La Cintura".

Contents

A calculated risk -- My angel -- Bought and sold -- Paradise -- Cockroaches -- Long live Verdi! -- I haven't time -- A game -- The jack gang -- Lover of festivals -- Lovelier than you -- The wardrobe -- Invisible woman -- Away with the sun! -- Imagination -- The ashtray -- The orgy -- Consumer goods -- Products -- Bores -- Line! Style! -- Mistress and mistress -- The leper -- Words and the body -- The chimaera -- Orders are orders -- You're all right -- Finger-nails -- Imitation -- Ah, the family! -- Too poor -- Seven children -- Confusion -- An abject man.