The invasion of East Timor, the sinking of the Titanic, Freud's encounter with an 'imbecile dwarf', astronomy, pregnancy, Tiananmen Square, a remote Aboriginal community: the stories in this powerful collection by Gail Jones traverse a broad range of historical and private subjects and are preoccupied with politics, sexuality and the visionary powers of language. Above all, through elegant and idiosyncratic narrative experimentation, they investigate that most problematic issue of human experience, the nature of suffering. Emotionally, intellectually and linguistically adventurous, Gail Jones' rich and imaginative prose is forthright and deeply felt, yet crafted with exceptional care. These stories are both challenging and highly readable.

Accolades

Winner of Steele Rudd Australian Short Story Award 1993.
Winner of Western Australian Premier's Book Awards: Fiction 1993.
Winner of TAG Hungerford Award: First Work of Fiction 1991.