Ismat Chughtai totally transformed the complexion of Urdu fiction. At a time when writing by and about women was rare and tentative, Chughtai explored female sexuality with unparalleled frankness and examined the political and social mores of her time. She wrote about the world that she knew, bringing the idiom of the middle class to Urdu prose.

This evocative collection brings together Chughtais fiction and non-fiction writing resplendent with her characteristic irreverence, wit and eye for detail. Stories include Gainda and The Net, which deal with sexual awakening and role playing; The Wedding Suit, which has to do with a daughters marriage; The Quilt, which lends itself to feminist readings; and Tinys Granny, which demonstrates how Chughtai delineates the lives of marginalized people.

The twenty-one pieces in this selection are Chughtai at her best, marked by her brilliant turn of phrase, scintillating dialogue and wry humour.