The Heart of a Woman is a fascinating book, useful for students of both history and the human heart. While bringing some of the era's greatest luminaries to life, the book also gives the reader an intensely personal look at a single figure. This individual is touched by both the radical political upheavals of the time and the small trials and tragedies of modern life. Even while Angelou juggles the most pressing social issues of her day in her public and professional life, she is faced with the pedestrian tasks of feeding and raising her son. Rather than degrade the private realm, Angelou elevates her private concerns. The task of raising a mature and responsible son is, Angelou argues, as important a task to the African-American community as securing rights in the public realm.

While it captures the social movement of the time, The Heart of...