Jane Rule has been a powerful force for equality. She broke new ground in Canadian literature as one of the first writers to populate her novels with homosexual as well as heterosexual characters. Her 1964 novel Desert of the Heart, which tells the love story of two women, is considered a masterpiece and was later adapted for film. Her books, described as forthright, complex and imaginative, have been translated into many languages and have earned her literary as well as human rights awards. Generous and caring, she is much loved by other writers and by members of her community.