Nearly all [Jean Rhys's] short stories and novels centre on a proud, sensitive woman, timidly putting out a hand for love and friendship and being continually rebuffed. For most the bottle becomes the only solace. The title story [of Sleep It off, Lady] starkly reflects this theme. Old Miss Verney, living alone in her country cottage could be Sasha Jensen of Good Morning, Midnight thirty years on. The vaguer fears of the younger woman are now concretised for Miss Verney into a large rat, real or imaginary, in the dilapidated garden shed. Forcing herself to replace a dustbin near the shed the old lady slips and cannot get up. A local girl leers at her, refusing her appeal for help. 'Sleep it off, Lady', she jeers, referring to the village gossip that Miss Verney drinks. Paralysed with fear, terrified of the rat, she is left alone in the...