She was a groomed for a gilded life in moneyed Houston, but Molly Ivins left the country club behind to become one of the most provocative, courageous, and influential journalists in American history. Presidents and senators called her for advice; her column ran in 400 newspapers; her books were bestsellers. But despite her fame, few people really knew her: what her background was, who influenced her, how her political views developed, or how many painful struggles she fought. This is a comprehensive, definitive narrative biography, based on intimate knowledge of Molly, interviews with her family, friends, and colleagues, and access to her personal papers. It is at once the saga of a powerful, pugnacious woman muscling her way to the top in a world dominated by men; a look behind the scenes of national media and politics; and a sobering account of the toll of addiction and cancer.--From publisher description.