Bad Behavior

Mary Gaitskill''s tales of desire and dislocation in 1980s New York caused a sensation with their frank, caustic portrayals of men and women''s inner lives. As her characters have sex, try and fail to connect, play power games and inflict myriad cruelties on each other, she skewers urban life with precision and candour.

''Stubbornly original, with a sort of rhythm and fine moments that flatten...