Barbara Kingsolver

The twenty-five essays in Barbara Kingsolver's anthology, High Tide in Tucson,cover a range of subjects that include elements of her personal life as well as such lofty issues such as the roots of sexism and racism in today's society. Kingsolver began her life in a small town in Kentucky. Her well-educated parents focused the family's attention on good literature and science as opposed to faddish notions and pop culture. As a result, throughout her years in school, Kingsolver was considered an egg head who was in the main ostracized by her classmates. Kingsolver didn't have stylish clothes and was slight and skinny and easily ignored. She didn't have her first date until college.

Kingsolver eventually married and had a daughter; however, the marriage soon ended after Camille was born. Barbara connects with a large segment of women in those essays that deal with single parenthood. Kingsolver's...