Contains twelve short fiction stories by Canadian author Margaret Atwood, in which she writes of childhood memories, aging parents, political activism, unexpected love, and other aspects of life.
Fact-based story of Grace Marks, a sixteen-year-old girl who received a life sentence in 1843 for allegedly taking part in the murder of her employer and his lover, but whose case continued to stir debate throughout her prison stay, resulting in her release in 1872.
Years after painter Elaine Risley flees Toronto for Vancouver, she returns to search for long-missing parts of her life and pursue the elusive Cordelia, her best friend and sometimes enemy.