The portrait of a moldering Moscow outskirt, The Grassy Street chronicles ordinary life in a typical Soviet suburb in the 1940's. Unsavory stuff by any standard, but fascinating for the picture Eppel paints--with his remarkable tenderness, humor, and even ebullience.

Born in 1935 Asar Eppel remained unpublished for more than two decades. His works, discovered only a few years ago, have earned unanimous praise: "Eppel is a past master of the subtle detail and the bon mot. His minute descriptions of everyday life make you either burst out laughing or dissolve in tears.