“Reid … writes and argues with such authority and intimacy that her readers will necessarily feel eager to join her and Butala, Dyck, Meigs, and Pratt at this communal table.”
-- Dr. Elizabeth Podnieks, Department of English, University of Toronto

In Women Between, author Verna Reid explores the evolving perceptions of “self” in the work of four Canadian women – visual artists Aganetha Dyck and Mary Pratt, and writers Sharon Butala and Mary Meigs. All four came into prominence in middle age, doing their most significant work in their mature years. They, along with the author, are members of a transitional generation of women, occupying the space between the traditional world of their mothers and the postmodern world of their daughters. The multiple roles they have played are reflected in the strong autobiographical content present in their work.

Applying feminist and autobiographical theory, Reid considers the work of Butala, Dyck, Meigs, and Pratt in light of the influences that have shaped their senses of identity. As a contemporary of her subjects, Reid was able to interview all four women for this project, infusing her exploration of their lives and work with a sense of intimacy and immediacy. Reproductions of pieces by Aganetha Dyck and Mary Pratt are also included.