First published 1971
Millicent Dillon presents a collection of stories centered on women confronting the complexities of domestic life and individual desires. The characters move through moments of quiet crisis, whether caring for children, managing households, or seeking connection beyond their immediate circumstances. Each story captures a woman at a crossroads, weighing obligations against personal yearnings. The narratives unfold in intimate settings where small decisions carry weight and ordinary encounters reveal deeper truths about identity and choice. Dillon writes with precision about the internal landscapes of her characters, showing how they negotiate between what others expect and what they need for themselves. The stories examine the tensions between duty and self-determination without offering easy resolutions.
Genres: short-stories, literary-fiction, domestic-fiction, 20th-century, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, quiet-crisis
Period: 20th-Century, 21st-Century
147 pages · Hardcover · The Viking Press