This book features the lives of five strong, creative, intelligent women who dedicated their lives to serving the genius of others. Among fascinating friends, dramatic historic events and transcendent achievements, these women chose saintly self-effacement, emotional suffering, loneliness, and personal privation. WHY? -- Why choose to live in the shadow of greatness? -- What did each sacrifice? What did each gain? Because each woman's shadow efforts influenced the public persona of her partner, the author believes the key is in the opaqueness or transparency of the genius being served. Some geniuses are so obsessed-opaque- they are open to nothing outside themselves. Others are transparent to the work of their own genius -- a witness, not a slave. How this affects the shadow women is the focus of this book.