In other countries, Alice Munro’s book Who Do You Think You Are? was published under the title The Beggar Maid, which is unfortunate – it sucks something essential from the book – since ‘who do you think you are?’ must be the most Canadian title, the most Canadian question. ‘Who do you think you are?’ we used to say when I was growing up, sometimes followed by, ‘the Queen of England?’ A demand posed of those who dared to express desire, pride or some other innocent form of self-determination. The royal reference is at once scornful and reverent – colonial jokes, with their complex subtexts and subjects.