In 1866, A Frail, Impoverished Invalid Rose from her bed after a life-threatening fall in Lynn, Massachusetts, asked for her Bible, and took the first steps toward the founding of the Christian Science Church. A few decades later her institution had thousands of churches in sixty countries, a national daily newspaper, and great wealth.

Who was this mother of the Mother Church, how did she prepare for her illustrious career during her years of obscurity, and what was her inspiration for the healing practices and doctrine of Christian Science? Gillian Gill, who was given unparalleled access to the Church archives, gives us an entirely new look at this astonishing woman, whom previous biographies have either canonized or vilified. Out of the tumultuous events of Mrs. Eddy's life, through struggle and success, scandal and fame, emerges a powerful and unforgettable figure, whose talents, flaws, and achievements were larger than life.