Description

Named one of the Best Books of the Year by *The New York Times*, *The Washington Post*, and *Slate*

**”Reading this book is a joy . . . much to say about the trans journey and will undoubtedly become a standard for those in need of guidance.”** —*The Washington Post*

**”Sante’s bold devotion to complexity and clarity makes this an exemplary memoir. It is a clarion call to live one’s most authentic life.”** —*The Boston Globe*

**”Not to be missed, *I Heard Her Call My Name* is a powerful example of self-reflection and a vibrant exploration of the modern dynamics of gender and identity.”** —*Lit Hub’s Most Anticipated Books of 2024*

Lucy Sante’s memoir is a deeply personal account of a life devoted to artistic truth while grappling with the unspoken reality of her gender identity—until she finally embraced her true self.

Born in Belgium to conservative, working-class Catholic parents, Sante immigrated to the United States as a child. It wasn’t until she arrived in New York City in the early 1970s that she truly felt a sense of belonging, finding solace among a community of bohemians. Some of her friends would achieve unexpected fame, while others were lost too soon to drugs or AIDS. Sante herself wavered between these two fates before forging a successful writing career. Yet, through it all, her life felt like a performance—her true self hidden even from herself.

In *I Heard Her Call My Name*, Sante intertwines two narratives: the evolution of her life and her recent journey toward inner and outer authenticity. With warmth and wit, she chronicles the challenges of learning how to live as a woman after six decades of existing in the world as a man. A moving exploration of identity and self-discovery, this memoir delves into issues that resonate far beyond gender, offering profound insight with grace and compassion.