"Written over a period of fifteen years, the essays in this collection showcase the adult non-fiction work of Sophie Masson, an author mostly known for her novels for young people. A warmly human mosaic of stories, a sharp eye for nature, an eclectic love of literature, a clarity of exprsession, a deep immersion in myth and legend and a taste for the curious, unexpected and strange: these are some of the characteristics of the essays. Ranging freely over time, place, and themes as diverse as Melbourne ganglands, tyrants and sorcery, Russian history, French country life, children's books and the nature of faith, they offer imaginative and intriguing glimpses into worlds mostly out of the mainstream"--Publisher's description, p. [2] of dust jacket.