This work investigates the historical and psychological motivations of individuals who have chosen to withdraw from society to pursue lives of extreme solitude. Isabel Colegate, an acclaimed novelist, applies her narrative sensibility to historical inquiry, examining the lives of figures ranging from ancient mystics to modern thinkers. By synthesizing biographical sketches with philosophical reflection, she explores whether the impulse toward seclusion is a flight from reality or a pursuit of a higher state of consciousness.

This text offers a contemplative and accessible exploration of the solitary life, balancing historical detail with thoughtful thematic analysis. The author's background as a novelist lends a fluid, engaging quality to the biographical sketches, making it a suitable introduction for readers interested in the intersection of philosophy and human behavior.