The story of St. Benedict, his monks and his Rule, with their tremendous influence on the religious life of the western world, has been told often and well. But the many communities of women who also follow his Rule are hardly as well known. This is the first popular presentation in English of their story. Father Hubert Van Zeller, O.S.B. begins with a description of the early Benedictine communities of women. He then traces in his familiar lively fashion and with vivid biographical detail their expansion, entrenchment, eclipse, reform, dispossession, rehabilitation, and present flourishing state.