In this debut collection, Mary Madec tests the power and resilience of language to explore the intractable intimacies of our connection with the world, from first memories and love to brave and incisive portraits of real and imagined lives. Mary Madec was born and raised in the west of Ireland. She was educated at NUI, Galway (B.A., M.A.) and the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Ph.D.). She is currently employed on a memorandum of understanding between NUI, Galway, and Villanova University, PA, and directs the Villanova University Center at NUI, Galway.