Focusing on the universe of beauty and dreams with an intensity that delves into self-recognition, these stories written over the last 15 years engage the reader with questions about our public and private lives. The stories touch on questions of identity and belief, the phantoms of memory, and the oppositions of beauty to experiences. Told in a Language of brilliant power, these tales enable the reader with their enigmatic and dreamlike quality.

Seán Virgo was born in Malta, and grew up in South Africa, Malaya, Ireland and the U.K. He immigrated to Canada in 1966 and became a citizen in 1972. He has published a number of works of both poetry and fiction including: Pieces for the Old Earth Man(1974); Island (1975); Selected Poems (1990); White Lies & Other Fictions (1981); Through the Eyes of a Cat (1983); Selakhi (1987); Wormwood (1989); and Waking in Eden (1991). His work has won various awards, including the CBC Competition (first prize for fiction, 1979); The BBC 3 Short Story Competition (first prize, 1980); and National Magazine Awards (first prize for both Poetry [1979] and Fiction [1990 ]).

Seán Virgo's profile page

"A writer at the peak of his form!"  “Books in Canada

"For his craft, his knowledge and originality of thought, his ear for the rhythm and poetic weight of Language, Virgo deserves the highest regard among fiction writers. Neither modernist nor post-modernist, although embracing characteristics of both, this writer belongs to a longer line of storytellers, whom he honours throughout these short fictions."  “The Toronto Star

"Implicit in [Virgo's] fiction is a reverence before both the miracle of consciousness and the miracle of nature."  “Times Literary Supplement