This deeply felt memoir is a love letter to Washington DC. Carol Lancaster a thirdgeneration Washingtonian who knew the city like few others takes readers on a tour of the nations capital from its swampinfested beginnings to the present day with an insiders view of the gritty politics environment society culture and largerthanlife heroes that characterize her beloved hometown. The former dean of Georgetown Universitys School of Foreign Service a friend of presidents and dignitaries all over the globe Lancaster colorfully describes the citys three neardeath experiences and the many triumphs and tribulations that emerged as the city took shape. Along the way she provides brief biographies of three of the most influential figures in the citys history urban designer Pierre Charles LEnfant whose vision for the city was realized only after his death civic leader Boss Shepherd whose strongarm tactics cleaned up the downtown area and helped create the walking mall we know today and controversial mayor Marion Barry whose rise and fall and resurrection underscored the contemporary challenges of home rule. Teeming with informative anecdotes and two dozen illustrations of landmarks and key characters Lancasters memoir is a personal and passionate paean to the most powerful city in the worldfrom one of its most illustrious native daughters.