A huge fan of her music I had only an inkling of her background other than her roots in country and the tragic plan crash that took her life. This book fills in the details to as in depth as one could want. Much of it is based on remarks and reminiscences of those that surrounded her particularly her friends Dottie West and Loretta Lynn.

Patsy's life, tumultuous from beginning to end, is a profile in the earlier rough and tumble era of country music. Particularly it encompassed how difficult the path was for women. Only someone with the drive and compassion of Patsy Cline could pull this off to the extent that she did. From her early discovery on a national stage through the Arthur Godfrey Show to her final breakthrough with a succession of more pop hits it was never easy. Badly mismanaged in her early career by a shoddy producer it greatly restricted what she could have done sooner.

Finally under her new contract with Decca and managed by a close friend who had her better interest at hand she finally realized some of what she could be, but was cut so short by the tragic plane crash. Her husband Charlie and their abusive marriage did not make matters any easier.

The book is long on detail and even is more so into the aftermath of her death and those connected to her. In my opinion the greatest female country singer and indeed maybe one of the top vocalists of all time, it is sad to think of what might have been. After finishing this book I have even more appreciation of the emotion and feeling that comes through in her music. Namely from whence she came. ( )