In The Flesh ($17.95; May 13, 1996; 116 pp.; 0-87951-655-0). This pseudonymous short novel, now identified as the work of eminent Danish author Asger Schnack, describes in startlingly graphic detail the stages of an unnamed woman's sexual experiences and fantasies. It's all a bit preening, though ``Schmidt'' finds genuine emotional resonances even in toneless accounts of sadomasochistic play and incestuous compulsion. As compelling as it is uncomfortable to read, the novel succeeds brilliantly as a composed portrayal of a woman who abandons herself to sensation in every form.
