Harriet’s acting career suffers a catastrophic setback when memory loss forces her to quit her role as Sarah Bernhardt. In turmoil, she accepts the role of Mazo de la Roche in a production written by an amateur playwright and being performed in small-town Saskatchewan. Harriet soon discovers that she was chosen for this role because she holds the key to a secret from Mazo’s past. Meanwhile, the play, the role, and the town draw Harriet into the vortex of her own past.
Joan Givner is the author of biographies, essays, and fiction. Her work includes major biographies of Katherine Anne Porter and Mazo de la Roche, five short story collections, and the novel Half Known Lives. A native of Manchester, England, Givner spent nearly a quarter-century teaching English Literature at the University of Regina before retiring to British Columbia.
"Givner's found a way to put a lot of her life's research into one place."
Bill Robertson, Star Phoenix
"Givner's style is fluid andable ... the historical material covered is intriguing and has long preoccupied Givner."
Robin Laurence, Straight.com
"enjoyably, givner offers gllimpses of Berhardt's career and some of the amazing feats of that career."
Malahat Review