Joyce Marshall (1) (1913–2005)

This is a surprisingly eclectic series of short stories, drawn from almost 50 years of writing. It's bewildering to see how mentalities change in such a short time and while Marshall's stories are never simple, the early ones (Martha stories) do have an innocent quality that the later ones don't; in fact, the later ones are surprisingly cutting edge, feminist and haunting with strong, rebellious characters.
The collection is divided into several sections: the childhood years, war years, show more feminist years and Norwegian influences. This wide range of topics shows off Marshall's talents for precise descriptive prose and a keen attention to detail. Each story is marvelously crafted with a moving message.
I'm very grateful to have discovered her as a strong voice in Canadian literature for both her writing and her translations of another great Canadian writer: Gabrielle Roy. show less

Story of idealistic young Anglican priest seduced by a (female) high school student would be difficult to get published today. He is the victim here; she is a tramp. Good eventually triumphs over evil, as he recovers his vocation while she is clearly destined for the downward road at the pace that kills. Quite the period piece. Set in Anglo-Quebec in the 1930s. I loved it..