Summertime & Short Stories by Stanislas Yassukovich
Summertime & Short Stories is a collection with a centerpiece, “Summertime,” which is a poignant tale of forbidden romance set amid the “old money” society of Long Island. Stanislas Yassukovich introduces us to a conscientious family doctor who becomes emotionally entangled with a young patient in his care. Their growing bond unfolds in the languid months of summer, under the gaze of affluent 1950s Long Island estates. It’s a relationship neither of them can openly acknowledge, burdened as it is by a stark age difference and the doctor’s professional ethics. The author crafts this central story with great care, depicting the narrator’s internal struggle between duty and desire. We follow his conflicted heart as he treats the patient’s high-society family — an indulgent alcoholic father and a hypochondriac mother — and tries to hide his feelings for their vibrant eighteen-year-old daughter. The tension is palpable and deeply human, drawing the reader into the narrator’s hopes and hesitations without ever resorting to false melodrama.
Memory and Moral Reflection
One of the novella’s greatest strengths is its use of memory and narration. “Summertime” is told in the first person by the doctor, years after the events, giving the tale a wistful, reflective tone. From the first pages, where he hears the lyrics “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy” playing in his mind as spring turns to summer, we sense that these recollections are tinged with equal parts nostalgia and regret. The narrator admits he has “some aversion to that season” now, because those summer memories still carry pain. This retrospective narration adds layers of poignancy to the story — we are not just witnessing a summer fling, but rather an important chapter of a man’s life that continues to haunt him.
Yassukovich handles the delicate moral dynamics with subtlety. As the doctor and young Diana navigate stolen moments together (a walk along a golf course, a dance at her debutante ball), the author paints an intimate portrait of unrequited love and guilt. Class commentary enriches the narrative at every turn. The setting of opulent Long Island mansions and exclusive Manhattan clubs highlights the rules and expectations of high society. Diana’s father, for example, struggles to keep up appearances despite his drinking, and her family winters in Palm Beach among their elite peers. These details aren’t mere backdrop; they quietly underscore how privilege and reputation pressure the characters’ choices. Through the doctor’s observant eyes, we see both the charm and the emptiness of this aristocratic world. It’s a testament to Yassukovich’s skill that the story feels empathetic, not judgmental. He shows us flawed, believable people rather than stereotypes of rich socialites.
Summertime & Short Stories is a collection that intrigues the reader from start to finish without ever resorting to sensationalism. By focusing on the emotional and moral strengths of each story, Yassukovich invites us to contemplate our own memories and choices. The book’s tone is consistently positive about the human capacity for growth and understanding — even when characters stumble, there’s a sense that they learn something by the end. The storytelling entertains while also prompting reflection, striking a satisfying balance between heart and mind.
About Stanislas M. Yassukovich:
Stanislas M. Yassukovich was born in Paris to a Russian emigré father and a French mother. The family went to America in 1940, and Stanislas was educated at Deerfield Academy and Harvard College. He served in the United States Marine Corps and then moved to England in 1961, where he pursued a distinguished career in the City of London, becoming known as one of the founders of the international capital markets.
On retirement, he moved to Luberon, a region of Provence in southern France, and now lives in the Western Cape, South Africa. For services to the financial industry, Stanislas was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Freeman of the City of London. In the Uk, his works are published by Austin Macauley Publishers. He is married to the former Diana Townsend of Lowdale Farm, Mazoe, Zimbabwe, and they have three children: Tatyana, Michael, and Nicholas.
