A Bird in the House

[1][2] Noted by Laurence to be "semi-autobiographical",[3] the series chronicles the growing up of a young agnostic writer, Vanessa MacLeod, in the fictional town of Manawaka, Manitoba.

Originally published as a series of independent short stories, Vanessa MacLeod: The protagonist, various ages throughout the novel.

He is unable to make money to support the family during the great depression, a time when people often pay him in chicken and potatoes.

He is named after Ewen's brother, who died in World War I. Edna Connor: Beth's sister, Vanessa's maternal aunt.

She lives with her parents until she is twenty-eight, cooking and cleaning, unable to find a job and unwilling to marry simply for escape.

She behaves as if the family is still wealthy, ordering fancy linens and silver from catalogues A Bird in The House has been reprinted multiple times.