“My sister, who would have been sixteen or seventeen at the time, was strong willed and persuasive. My mother must, that summer, have been under her spell, for she let Olga drill me for hours every day on the beach, in preparation for taking a ballet exam…. I would get cross or even tearful at times …”

Perhaps all older sisters are cruel.

Tesserae’s a collection of short vignettes, recalling memories from Denise’s life. Denise was born to a “Jewish-Christian” father from Russia and a Welsh mother. When 12 years old, Denise decided to become a communist—and sold the Daily Worker door to door. At some point, her sister Olga died tragically somehow. Denise took all sorts of odd jobs, including that of a nurse during WWII.

Lost books, friendships, details of memories. Curious remembrances recalled and pondered over - rather insignificant events and people from the past that become important through memory -