Meet Katharine Drexel

Find out in this compelling biography of St. Katharine Drexel (1858-1955) -- a tale of "riches to rags" that turns the conventional American success story upside down. Born the daughter of a wealthy and prominent Philadelphia banker, Katharine gave up her place of privilege and ease to found the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. As they spread across the United States, these sisters devoted themselves tirelessly to caring for the needs of the poor and those on the margins of American society, especially African-Americans and Native Americans. Here was a woman who intimately knew both the streets of Paris and the streets of Harlem ... who crossed the ocean on luxury liners yet paddled the backwaters of the Louisiana bayou ... who dined with equal ease in the mansions of high society or the tent of a lakota tribal chief. St. Katharine's life was the adventure of an indomitable soul who gave herself to the oppressed -- and taught the world the meaning of fearless love. Book jacket.