One of those important books by women that were not part of the canon when I was in college.

At first it feels as if each chapter is a character sketch of an inhabitant in a small town. But gradually the "sketches" intertwine. And the context grows from individual to family to the town community and beyond as characters become part of Dunnetts Landing, Dunnetts Landing becomes part of Maine, Maine becomes part of New England, and New England becomes part of the world as the sea provides a link with Europe. Early on we read, "'Tis a dreadful small place to make a world of," but later we read of one who never mistook their own as the whole instead of the part. The houses are described as looking beyond.

I may return to the book to read the short stories in the collection; for now my interest was in the main one.