"The stories have a steely rectitude and an uncompromising determination to face down humiliation and inequality...economical, moral and compassionate."—The Guardian

Dilys Rose has been compared to Katherine Mansfield. Stories include one of two musicians in an airport watching a bombing of the home town they have left; restless teenagers running riot during lockdown, with disastrous consequences. In others Albert Einstein's reputation grows, as does his absence as a father; a cantankerous ninety-nine year old contributes to the chaos of a night ward.  Rose conjures the essence of a situation with insight, economy and dark wit, and vividly presents an uncompromising view of the world where everyone is searching but few find what they hope for. Each story vividly creates the inner world of a compelling yet disparate cast of characters, and these brief glimpses into the lives of others leave a lasting afterglow.

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The stories have a steely rectitude and an uncompromising determination to face down humiliation and inequality...economical, moral and compassionate.

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The author's eye is so sharp, her hearing so acute, her imagination so lively. This is a very good collection indeed. Even some of those who say they don’t care for short story collections might well set their prejudice aside and find much to delight them.

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Many of Rose's characters face impossible choices, but her unity of vision does not lead to a narrow or repetitive collection.  On the contrary, the stories are wonderfully far-ranging.