This is the second volume of short stories by contemporary women to be selected by Susan Hill. Set alongside Sylvia Plath's story about tattooing is an account oof childhood by the New Zealand author, Janet Frame. A new writer, Leonora Brito, has written a tale of a passion for the blues singer, Sarah Vaughan, narrated by a worker in a cigar factory. Moy McCrory writes of the deep influence of an Irish Catholic upbringing. Familiar names included are Angela Carter, Nadine Gordimer and Maeve Binchy. New authors include Judith Condon, Ellen Gilchrist and Helen Simpson. The collection is spread over different countries, and the stories feature a diversity of style, themes and approach.