In 1985 Joseph Pivato edited 'Contrasts: Comparative Essays on Italian-Canadian Writing', a pioneering collection on minority writing in English, French and Italian. The present book builds on Contrasts by focusing on specific questions -- oral roots, women, self-hatred and translation -- and by expanding on the Canadian discourse to include minority writing in Australia and other countries. In her Foreword, Sneja Gunew states: "The final strategy clearly consists of continuing the dialogue with people like Joseph Pivato and thus to be far more nuanced in our research into cultural difference. Like Joseph Pivato, I believe that the study of these writings both focuses on local differences and transcends the opportunism and tunnel vision of nationalist projects by connecting us to the world at large."