small-town life obscure Joan's individuality; as an adult, it's inhibited by an unhappy marriage. After

compellingly larger than life, This Proud Heart is incomparable in its sympathetic study of character.    This

. Throughout her life she worked in support of civil and women's rights, and established Welcome House, the

marry her and settle down to country life-a journey that means bridging enormous gaps between their

integrate his life of the mind with his experience in the world. Stephanie feels alienated from society by

written about Tzu Hsi, but no other novel recreates her life-the extraordinary personality, together with