The third collection from celebrated poet Joan Crate carries the reader along on a sequence of poetic reveries that collide and collude suburban routine with subconscious fantasy. The specter of Snow White—here in an incarnation far Grimmer than her more familiar casting as the wide-eyed Angel in the House—haunts the corridors of the collection, first as a retro-, then as a made-over fairy-tale reflection of the lives of contemporary women. The poems reflect upon family relationships and gender roles with acerbic humour, wistfulness, and, finally, acceptance, painting a mid-life view of childhood influences and expectations that is both stirring and wise.

Joan Crate was born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, but grew up moving around BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan. A high school dropout, she eventually graduated with an honours BA and an MA (with distinction) in English, both from the University of Calgary. Her first poetry collection, Pale as Real Ladies: Poems for Pauline Johnston, now in its sixth printing, was published by Brick Books in 1991. Her second collection, Foreign Homes, was shortlisted for the 2002 Pat Lowther Memorial Award. She teaches English at Red Deer College in Alberta.