With this collection of short works, Alexandra Ranieri wrestles on a more intimate footing with the themes of natural wonder, personal hubris, and the restorative power of compassion, which have informed her novels and plays. In the title story, “The Dearborns”, we are thrust into the deeply personal story of one family’s self-destruction, fueled by secrets, lies and revenge, while “The Golden Web” follows a tapestry weaver’s slow descent into madness. With the light-hearted “The Lovesick Maiden”, Ranieri paints a lively portrait in miniature of the Golden Age in Amsterdam. In her “Passages”, short meditations on everything from minute wonders of the natural world to foibles of human nature, the reader is invited to explore new perspectives on the everyday, while her tight, formally resonant verse recalls the musicality and artistic virtuosity of a bygone era. This is a volume sure to please anyone who looks to be caught unawares and delighted by the power of language.