Introduction ~ Ann Nilsen, Julia Brannen, Sue Lewis-- Cross-national comparisons: the history-biography link ~ Ann Nilsen-- Methodological approaches, practice and reflection ~ Julia Brannen, Ann Nilsen-- Comparing transitions to motherhood across contexts ~Ann Nilsen, Maria dos Dores Guerreiro, Siyka Kovacheva, Janet Smithson-- Comparing transitions to fatherhood across contexts ~Lars Plantin, Margareta Back-Wicklund, Siyka Kovacheva and Maria das Dores Guerreiro-- Supports and contraints for parents: a gendered cross-national perspective ~ Janet Smithson, Suzan Lewis, Siyka Kovacheva, Laura den Dulk, Bram Peper, Anneke van Doorne-Huiskes-- being a working parent in the present: case comparisons in time and place ~ Julia Brannen and Nevenka Sadar Eernigoj-- Discussion and conclusions ~ Suzan Lewis, Ann Nilsen, Julia Brannen.