Set against the backdrop of the American South from the 1820s until the dawn of the Civil War, this is a remarkable story of fortitude, heartbreak and indomitable will - and a tale that will forever illuminate the reading of Margaret Mitchell's unforgettable classic, Gone with the Wind.

From Ruth's early years as the beautiful young companion to a strong-willed French emigre mistress, to her breief marriage and finally to her life's calling as the wise and devoted caretaker to the women of the Robillard and O'Hara families, Ruth has known days of joy and unspeakable sadness. This is her story.