"This book offers unique insights provided by a woman who was actively involved in the intellectual, historical, and cultural events that unfolded in the first half of this century in Spain. She writes with perception and candor about her encounters with twentieth-century Spain's intellectual and literary giants: Unamuno, Ortega y Gasset, Machado, and many others. Reading this book has made me aware how important this type of personal account is to the better understanding of writers, thinkers, and the events that surrounded them." -- Barbara N. Gantt, Northern Arizona University "The book is significant in various ways: it gives a fascinating account of the birth of a powerful intellect to ideology--not doctrinaire ideology, but the commitment of a concerned liberal mind. It does this in the context of a historical turning point for Spain and for Europe. It is important as well in its attention to the interface between philosophy and ideology, philosophy and personal agency. "As a narrative it is unlike any other that I know, blending skillfully and compellingly philosophy and daily living, engagement and emotional growth.

I can think of no other book like it."--Salvador J. Fajardo, Binghamton University.