By excerpting from letters she exchanged with five irreverent writers and artists, Margaret Randall constructs conversations that open windows on four pivotal moments in her life and on world events. This correspondence touches on important themes, such as social change, identity, art, and creative integrity--issues that were relevant then and remain so today. The letters are sometimes philosophical, sometimes intimate, and deal with family life as well as major creative projects, including literary political publishing, often taken on against daunting odds. Society continuously tries to subsume or shape influential rebel minds to its interests. Every generation has those who will not allow themselves to be silenced or controlled. This book is exciting evidence of this. Chapters: I. Walter Lowenfels: A Poet Who Laughed at Time II.

Laurette Séjourné: A Woman with Pick and Shovel and Arnaldo Orfila: A Man Who Filled a Century III. Susan Sherman: A Woman Before Her Time IV. Greg Smith: A Painter Who Listens to Silence.