Papeles de Pandora (cuentos)

Papeles de Pandora contains the stories that first brought Rosario Ferré to the attention of Spanish-language readers throughout the world. In this collection, Ferré introduces her major theme: the position of women in a fast-changing but still patriarchal culture. In “La muñeca menor” (“The Youngest Doll”), a maiden aunt uses her skill at making honey-filled dolls to get revenge. “La bella durmiente” (“The Sleeping Beauty”), recounts the brief life of a young dancer through letters and newspaper clippings that reveal much more than they say. And in “Cuando las mujeres quieren a los hombres” (“When Women Love Men”), a society lady and a prostitute form a startling alliance after the death of the man they both loved. Richly imagined, elegantly written, Ferré’s stories are early proof of her stature among contemporary Latin American writers.