It has been said that it is difficult for a woman to "make it" in a man's world. Although this phrase is usually used to describe the "glass ceiling" in the corporate world, Amanda Cross seems to be telling her readers that there are difficulties for women in the academic world also — especially bastions of male scholarship like Harvard.

Amanda Cross (the pen name of Carolyn Heilbrun) had firsthand experience in that world. In Death in a Tenured Position she paints interesting portraits of women like Janet who have isolated themselves from other people and women like Joan Theresa who have isolated themselves from men. She also seems to be pointing out that there are many kinds of death. Perhaps being tenured is its own kind of death.

1. Kate always quotes someone in her novels. Who does she quote here and why is it successful...