'Women need solitude in order to find again the true essence of themselves. ' First published in 1955 and an instant bestseller, A Gift from the Sea has been passed from generation to generation ever since, finding a place in the life of millions of women. Holidaying by the sea, and taking inspiration from the shells she finds on the seashore, Anne Morrow Lindbergh meditates on youth and age, love and marriage, peace, solitude and contentment. The mother of five children, an acclaimed writer and a pioneering aviator Lindbergh's insights - into the trappings of the modern world that threaten to overwhelm us, the technology that complicates what it promises to simplify, the ever multiplying commitments that take us from our families - are perhaps even more true and relevant today than they were in the fifties. And by recording her thoughts during a brief escape from everyday demands, she helps readers find a space for contemplation and creativity within their own lives. 'Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after. '