As a young woman, brilliant, charismatic, and curious, Marsha Danziger transformed herself into Magda Danvers, taking the academic world by storm. She was already a star when she came upon Francis Lake in a midwestern seminary and married him. It was a mating that seemed perfect. But now Magda's grave illness puts their marriage to its ultimate test. Into this turmoil comes Alice Henry, an old friend whose own marriage is crumbling. Can Magda teach Alice the secret of the good marriage . . . and does she even know the secret any longer herself?