'Dictation: A Quartet' is a sharp and witty collection that delves into the complexities of self-deception and the nuances of revenge through four long stories. These tales commence with a comedic touch, introducing characters who are unknowingly self-deluded. The journey from fooling themselves to deceiving those around them leads to an inevitable and cunning reversal of fates. Among the stories is the novella 'Dictation,' a brilliant imagining of a clandestine conspiracy forged between the secretaries of literary giants Henry James and Joseph Conrad. Under the guise of mundane typing, they maneuver to ensure their own slice of immortality. Ozick's narrative is as much a tale of intellectual intrigue as it is a dance of deceit, entwining readers in a wry examination of ambition and human folly.