Originally written in Urdu, these 15 short stories are of seminal importance in illustrating the development, acceptance, and historical progress of Indian women writers. They also delineate the reluctant approval of several topics in fiction, particularly lesbianism and homosexuality, which had been only tacitly recognized earlier in Indian life and literature. The title story, "The Quilt," is a pioneering achievement; when it was first published, Chughtai had to defend herself before the Imperial Crown Court of India. Other stories, such as "Sacred Duty," "Scent of the Body," and "The Morsel," also demonstrate the author's accomplishments, for her fiction is outspoken, humorous, sometimes cynical but always energetic and convincing. A highly significant account of women's longtime struggle to find their place in Indian society, with Chughtai leading the endeavor in both her writing and her life; recommended for public libraries.

爾斯麥特·楚鄂達伊(Ismat Chughtāī）是印度著名的烏爾都語小說傢，穆斯林，女性。是烏爾都語小說的四大支柱之一（普列姆昌德、Bedi、門卓）。小說《Lihaaf》（棉被）因描寫同性戀題材，受到淫褻物品的罪名指控，同門卓（因小說《氣味》受到同樣指控）一起前往拉閤爾受審，成為文壇一段佳話。