Josephine is a saga about greed, power, servitude, and survival, balanced against the misery of living in a western Pennsylvania coal patch. Timeless, poignant with flawed, unforgettable characters and set during a most prosperous time for the few, Josephine's efforts to shape a life that sets her afire are thwarted time and time again by forces around her. Although she rebuffs society's mandates and wants to carve out her own path, circumstances compel her to marry Joseph, one of the many miners battling for his dignity and welfare. Josephine and her friends, Annie and Emma, struggle to survive and help other women to do the same as heartache reaches into every home. They are pushed and pulled by tragedies, the constant threat of poverty, and by a society of imposed limitations. Although Josephine's story does not end tied up in a pretty bow with the reader saying she slayed the dragon, they can say she had an indomitable spirit; she tackled the challenges that came her way; and made opportunities for herself, her family, and the women around her.