In this book, Lucy Wilson addresses the need for both authors and their female protagonists to immerse themselves in their communities and nations and to join the dialogue that has traditionally been reserved for men. However, the need for women to join the discourse crosses all geographical boundaries. Wilson takes the lessons she has learned from strong West Indian female characters, and the creative minds that bring them to life, and in turn encourages all women to find strength in themselves. is a collection of essays that have appeared in journals and anthologies between 1986 and 2006. The essays in Part One discuss the need for a new model of female development as the traditional is incompatible with the world experienced by contemporary female characters from developing nations. Part Two analyzes the major works of Jean Rhys, including and .