Alice von Hildebrand is a household name to millions who know her from her countless appearances on EWTN, her many important books, and her voluminous articles and essays.

But little known is the story of her life, notably the 37 years she spent at Hunter College in New York City.

There, despite unceasing opposition that might have defeated even the strongest of souls, she endured with grace and devotion, leaving a mark on a generation of students through her defense of truth through persuasion, wit, and love. By showing her students how truth fulfills the deepest longings of the human heart, she helped to liberate countless students from the oppressive relativism of the day, enabling many of them to find their way to God.

Now, for the first time, discover Alice von Hildebrand’s story told memorably in her own words, including:
 

• Her thrilling escape from Europe that was nearly halted by a Nazi ship
• Her early days in America and her dedication to education and cultivating wisdom
• Her marriage to the great philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand
• Her victories and defeats at Hunter where she was surrounded by a culture of relativism
• And much more...

Memoirs of a Happy Failure is a fascinating glimpse - drawn from the caverns of memory - into the life of one of contemporary Catholicism’s most compelling minds. At once bold and vulnerable, it is the story of courage, faith, and the power of one person’s witness to transform the world.