Caterpillars digging their own graves, sharks being artificially ventilated, ducks keeping an eye out for predators even in their sleep, sheep shedding their wool on their own. Each of Eva Menasse's stories starts from a curious animal report but ultimately focuses entirely on the human species. An old despot resisting any change cannot prevent his wife's dementia from erasing his own past. A dedicated mother who protects a Muslim child from hostility ultimately finds the boundaries between good and evil, right and wrong, blurring for herself as well. The award-winning author examines her subjects with a loving yet relentless researcher's gaze, weaving a wonderful mix of pointed wit, mystery, and melancholic seriousness.