The ten stories collected here vividly express what it was like to be a figure skater at the turn of the last century. They range from author E. F. Benson's recollections of his childhood on the ice to clever parodies of society to chilling tales of horror. Many are set in the Swiss Alps, where the most dedicated English skaters, including Benson himself, often wintered. They display Benson's full range of talent as a writer and highlight his depth of knowledge as a skater, coach, and judge.