Shibue Io was the daughter of a merchant family in 19th-century Japan and wife of a scholar-doctor of the samurai class. This book draws on the biography of her husband, written by Mori Ogai, to tell her story, and the story of her society, and her times.

Daughter of a merchant family in nineteenth-century Japan and wife of a distinguished scholar-doctor of the samurai class, Shibue Io was a woman remarkable in her own right for her exceptionally keen mind and fearless spirit. Edwin McClellan now draws on the biography of her husband, written by Mori Ogai, to tell the story of Shibue Io, her society, and her times.