Women and Power in Argentine Literature: Stories, Interviews, and Critical Essays

The fifteen writers chosen for Women and Power in Argentine Literature include famous names such as Valenzuela, as well as authors anthologized for the first time, most notably Maria Kodama, widow of Jorge Luis Borges. Each chapter begins with a "verbal portrait," editor Gwendolyn Diaz's personal impression of the author at ease, formed through hours of conversation and interviews. A biographical essay and critical commentary follow, with emphasis on the work included in this anthology. Diaz's interviews, translated from Spanish, and finally the stories themselves--only three of which have been previously published in English--complete the chapters. The extraordinary depth of these chapters reflects the nuanced, often controversial portrayals of power observed by Argentine women writers. Inspiring as well as insightful, Women and Power in ArgentineLiterature is ultimately about women who, in Diaz's words, "choose to speak their truth regardless of the consequences."