Chapter 11 Summary

On October 8, 2000 Reta writes a letter to the editor of a literary magazine, the first of a series that will appear throughout the remainder of the book. Her complaint centers around one of the magazine's advertising pages, which promotes a series of books called "Great Minds of the Western Intellectual World." Reta notes that women have been left out of the list and asks the editor how this is possible. She mentions Norah by name and the fact that she is often troubled by the fact that there is a complete and callous lack of curiosity about the minds of great women.

In her letter, Reta predicts that the editor will respond by compiling a list of all the political and economic rights women have won, offering them as evidence that the playing field is level. However, she insists that it is not...