Pauline's passion & punishment / Louisa May Alcott -- The spider's web / Lisa St Aubin de Terán -- Why Herbert killed his mother / Winifred Holtby -- Being a people person / Candia McWilliam -- The doom of the Griffiths / Elizabeth Gaskell -- Curry at the laburnums / Shena Mackay -- The wedding dress / Mary Flanagan -- Samuel Lowgood's revenge / Mary E. Braddon -- Pass the parcel / Lucy Ellmann -- A terrible vengeance / Charlotte Riddell -- Revenge / Joanna Briscoe -- The portable virgin / Anne Enright -- The portobello road / Muriel Spark -- Revenge / Ellen Gilchrist -- Rigor Beach / Emma Tennant -- Jim's angel / Kate Saunders -- The revenge of Hannah Kemhuff / Alice Walker -- Delia and the avengers / Maureen Freely -- Making arrangements / Elizabeth Bowen -- A glowing future / Ruth Rendell.