Spanning five decades of writing, these 31 tales by Edna O'Brien are a portrait of modern Ireland. Coming of age, the impact of class, and familial and romantic love are the prevalent motifs, along with the instinct toward escape and subsequent nostalgia for home. In "A Rose in the Heart of New York," the single-mindedness of love dramatically derails the relationship between a girl and her mother, while in "Sister Imelda" and "The Creature," the strong ties between teacher and student and mother and son are ultimately broken.