One Glorious Ambition

“Jane Kirkpatrick’s ability to probe the human spirit makes
One Glorious Ambition
a soaring novel of love, compassion, and duty. Born a nineteenth-century woman with few rights, Dorothea Dix nonetheless challenged the nation’s most powerful men to provide humane treatment for the hopeless—the retarded and insane. In Kirkpatrick’s skillful hands,
One Glorious Ambition
inspires like few other novels.”

—S
ANDRA
D
ALLAS
, author of
True Sisters
and
The Quilt Walk

“
One Glorious Ambition
is a compelling novelization of Dorothea Dix’s crusade on behalf of the mentally ill. Kirkpatrick’s painstaking documentation and customary attention to historical detail shine here, and the connections between Dix’s personal relationships and her life’s work stand out. Dix is a worthy American heroine. The interview section at the end of the book adds many fascinating nuggets to the story.”

—S
USAN
P
AGE
D
AVIS
, award-winning author of more than forty books

“Jane Kirkpatrick has the rare ability to use what’s known about historical women as the foundation for compelling historical fiction. Here, Kirkpatrick shines her light on the remarkable life of Dorothea Dix, seamlessly blending fact and fiction to illuminate Dix’s journey from a girl struggling to save her family to a woman championing all those in need. Dorothea Dix can still inform and inspire modern readers, and
One Glorious Ambition
is a story to be treasured.”

—K
ATHLEEN
E
RNST
, award-winning author of the Chloe Ellefson Mysteries

“Jane Kirkpatrick uses her considerable writing talents to bring Dorothea Dix to life in this exciting historical novel. In doing so, Kirkpatrick gives a voice and face not only to a heroic crusader but also to Americans seldom seen or heard in our society—those living with mental disorders. Her fiction reads like fact because it describes a campaign that still needs to be waged and exposes societal flaws that have yet to be addressed.”

—P
ETE
E
ARLEY
, author of
Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness

“Thank you, Jane, for personally introducing me to Dorothea in your book
One Glorious Ambition
. It is a joyful experience to come to actually
know
someone I knew so much about. My admiration of Dorothea Dix and her work has been deepened by your work, Jane.”

—D
EAN
B
ROOKS
, MD, superintendent (1955–1982), Oregon State Hospital

“A
must-read
! I was moved to tears by the sense of history, tragedy, and hope of Dorothea’s life work accomplished on behalf of people with mental health challenges. Every human being should know Dorothea Dix’s story. Jane Kirkpatrick captures it magnificently!”

—G
INA
F
IRMAN
N
IKKEL
, PhD, president and CEO, Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care

“Read this book and have Dorothea Dix transform your life. Be uplifted not simply by the grand trajectory of Dix’s singular journey but by the irresistible voice that Jane Kirkpatrick compels you to hear. A deeply sensitive and intelligent young woman overcomes trenchant pain and social barriers to fight tirelessly for those who have neither a voice nor an advocate. Her impossible life is unraveled and liberated in this novel. And read with a sense of urgency, for the battles fought by Dorothea Dix more than a century ago are very much in need of being waged again.”

—C
HARLES
K
ISELYAK
, producer and director of award-winning films including
Completely Cuckoo, Fearful Symmetry
, and
A Constant Forge

O
NE
G
LORIOUS
A
MBITION
P
UBLISHED BY
W
ATERBROOK
P
RESS
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921

All Scripture quotations and paraphrases are taken from the King James Version.

This book is a work of historical fiction based closely on real people and real events. Details that cannot be historically verified are purely products of the author’s imagination.

eISBN: 978-0-307-72943-9

Copyright © 2013 by Jane Kirkpatrick

Cover design by Kristopher K. Orr; cover photography by Liz McAulay, Getty Images

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc., New York.

W
ATER
B
ROOK
and its deer colophon are registered trademarks of Random House Inc.

Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the Library of Congress.

v3.1_r1

To Dr. Dean Brooks and his compassionate daughters:
Ulista, India, and Dennie