The Tree

The merit of the short stories in the collection “The Tree” lies in the diversity and multiplicity, which reflect the broad perspective of the author. While she focuses on the construction, language, and the miniature of the story as a unique “literary genre,” with her entire concern being the techniques, subtleties, and nuances of the “short story,” she delves into the psychological realms of women, daily routines, the tedium of office work, family worries, and the hidden philosophical dimensions of life. At a time when fascination with formalism and entering magical and unfamiliar realms dominates many of our contemporary short stories, the conscious and responsible integration of life’s reality with the concern for the construction and language of the story stands out as one of the highlights of Mitra Davar’s writing in this collection.