A self-made woman's dramatic sweep through the turmoils of mid-century America and Europe. Jean has no plan; self-contained, imaginative, and resilient, she acts first and rationalizes later. Her specialty is moving on, choosing adventure all the way.

At 17, she is ready to slip into the secret life of adults. To save a smuggler on Lake Ontario, she rows hard and keeps her mouth shut. Posing for art classes and "art" photographs in New York leads to a silent movie career in California and Paris, which in turn leads to marriage into an aristocratic family. After riots and strikes, after World War II and compromises with Vichy, after losing her family and her money, she uses a friend's leavings to remake herself as an art dealer. Old age finds Jean in a Montreal apartment, still earning her living by letting people look at her, still propelled by uncontrollable bravery.

The Time of Her Life follows a strong and beautiful woman through a life permeated with drama and intrigue.