TO STEP ASIDE

A collection of short stories, which will have a wider sale than usual with short stories on the strength of Noel Coward's name. Good chance for rentals, too, as they will appeal to the Dorothy Parker market and are light enough to be safely recommended for people who don't want the usual type of modern problem story. Most of the stories are set in England or the Continent; there is one with a Long Island week-end as background (a satiric picture of a ""quiet week-end in the country""). Urbane, sophisticated, not as streamlined as one would expect from their author. Many have almost an O. Henry twist to the end. Theatrical people, successful or close to the down-and-outers of the vaudeville troopers; writers; Mayfair socialites -- these are the people around whom the stories are spun.