Ellen Tarry gives us a well-researched, detailed, yet flowing account of the life of the humble Pierre Toussaint. Ellen takes us on the journey with Pierre from being a slave in his native Haiti, to his journey to New York with the family that owned him, his career as a caring and concerned hairdresser to the elite of New York, his charitable efforts with the orphans and French Revolution victims, purchasing slaves' freedom, his caring for the dying and sick during the August plagues, and the list goes on.... Pierre Toussaint is now undergoing the canonization process for sainthood in the Catholic Church. It would certainly be a fitting crown for this humble man of great faith, humility, hope and charity. Ellen Tarry writes of this in a flowing non-boring descriptive manner. The book is also an excellent source of the history of the 1777-1853 period when he lived, not only New York history, but France and Haiti. It would be appropriate for people of all ages. Pierre Toussaint was a great inspiration and example for us all to follow.