This anthology of short stories reflects the wide range of subjects and styles written by Israeli women today. The change in the mainstream Israeli experience in the 1970s has brought about a greater openness in literature, and a plurality of voicesincluding those of women - has emerged. The shift of marginal characters to the centre stage in Israeli fiction, as well as a departure from male-oriented national concerns, has opened the doors to an influx of women writers. These stories, most of which have been specially translated for this anthology, represent the exciting writing emerging from Israel. The form of the short story still holds an important place in the development of Hebrew literature, and this collection reflects not only specific themes such as the Holocaust and the relationship between Arabs and Jews, but also the universal human preoccupations of death, love, betrayal and isolation, all of which transcend the boundaries of regional interests.
