"Waves / Sultry Days" by Eduard von Keyserling is a captivating collection of stories that illuminates the complex social structures and class pretensions of the Baltic nobility. In "Waves," a seemingly harmless summer idyll in a seaside resort becomes the backdrop for the conflicts and disputes among the guests, who are trapped in their outdated notions of honor. "Sultry Days," on the other hand, explores the discovery of an illicit love affair that tests familial bonds and societal norms. Keyserling skillfully draws readers into the world of the nobility, impressively portraying the tensions between tradition and personal desire with a keen sensitivity to human psychology and social conventions.