Chapter 19 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 19 continues Kay's critical examination of her steep learning curve. After a year of widowhood, Kay's grief grows more bearable, but job difficulties remain enormous. She has been conditioned to deal only with important people, and she overlooks many talented, invaluable workers until she learns to appreciate performance alone. She passes tormented sleepless nights over mistakes she wrongly assumes people in her position do not make. She adopts the Montessori method of learning-by-doing, taking trips with editors and reporters. The only drawback is having to leave her sons alone. She visits Europe and Japan with Elliott and his wife. In Japan, they meet the current and two future prime ministers and the royal couple, the first interview the Emperor has ever given to a woman. Kay catches herself making a reference to World War II and concentrates on the Emperor's interest...