One Glorious Ambition, The Compassionate Crusade of Dorthea Dix is the latest historical fiction by Jane Kirkpatrick. She chronicles the life of New England activist and reformer Dorthea Dix.

Living in the 1800’s when women had very little voice, Dorthea crusaded tirelessly on behalf of better conditions for the mentally ill. A lonely woman from a broken family, she feels a call to serve from a very young age.

Kirkpatrick’s novel is a deeply personal portrait of this fascinating woman and this time in our country’s history. While slavery was the issue of the day, Dorthea was fighting for the rights of the all but forgotten mentally ill.

The novel is long and a bit tiresome by the end, however still well worth reading.