Super Short Summary

In his collection of short stories, Dancing After Hours (1996), American author Andre Dubus covers a wide range of topics, including adultery, murder, abortion, and the Vietnam War. The New York Times named Dancing After Hours one of its Notable Books of the Year. In "The Intruder," thirteen-year-old Kenneth accidentally shoots his sister's boyfriend while trying to protect her. "A Love Song" follows a woman's confrontation with her husband over his affair. In "Falling in Love," Vietnam veteran Ted Briggs struggles with a partner's decision to have an abortion. "Blessings" focuses on Rusty coping with trauma from a shark attack and her daughter's near-death experience. "Sunday Morning" features Tess, who is affected by the murder of her friend Mona. "All the Time in the World" continues Ted's story as he meets LuAnn, leading to a non-sexual, loving relationship. "Woman on a Plane" is about a poet dealing with her brother's terminal illness. "The Colonel's Wife" depicts Lydia's infidelity following her husband's accident. "The Lover" follows Lee Trembath's affair with a younger woman. "The Last Moon" tells of a married woman convincing her lover to murder her husband. LuAnn and Ted's relationship is tested in "The Timing of Sin" when LuAnn nearly cheats. "At Night" describes an elderly woman's trauma after her husband's sudden death. "Out of the Snow" shows LuAnn defending herself against burglars. The final story, "Dancing After Hours," features Drew, a quadriplegic, recalling a skydiving incident to bar patrons.