This is a surprisingly eclectic series of short stories, drawn from almost 50 years of writing. It's bewildering to see how mentalities change in such a short time and while Marshall's stories are never simple, the early ones (Martha stories) do have an innocent quality that the later ones don't; in fact, the later ones are surprisingly cutting edge, feminist and haunting with strong, rebellious characters.
The collection is divided into several sections: the childhood years, war years, feminist years and Norwegian influences. This wide range of topics shows off Marshall's talents for precise descriptive prose and a keen attention to detail. Each story is marvelously crafted with a moving message.
I'm very grateful to have discovered her as a strong voice in Canadian literature for both her writing and her translations of another great Canadian writer: Gabrielle Roy. ( )