Rebecca West was a firebrand feminist, but also a soulful thinker and witty commentator on social issues, history, philosophy and art. Here is a compelling voice from the 20th century to comment not only on her own time, but on ours too. Skyrocketing divorce rates, the persistence of imperialism, the ongoing battle for religion to find a foothold in the modern world-these are some of the ongoing issues that make West a useful companion as we navigate the thorny path into the 21st century.