Confidences - (Paperback)

About the Book

The only novel written by acclaimed feminist poet Adela Zamudio, Confidences has been hailed as a lost classic of Bolivian modernism. Now available in English for the first time, this translation captures the lyrical qualities of Zamudio's prose as it vividly depicts how sexism and religious dogma prevented women from shaping their own destinies.

Book Synopsis

Juan is a Bolivian poet at the turn of the century, visiting the city of Cochabamba and writing letters to his friend Armando about the masked sensuality and hostility he feels seething beneath the placid face of this insular mining town. Antonia is a married woman living in Cochabamba, writing to her friend Gracia about the local gossip--which soon erupts into a scandal that threatens to destroy a family. Contrasting Juan's letters home with Antonia's private correspondence to her friend, Confidences tells a story of tragic love and explosive passions, showing how the intimacies that begin behind closed doors spill out into the public sphere.

The only novel written by acclaimed feminist poet Adela Zamudio, Confidences was harshly criticized for not following the conventions of realist literature, but it has since been hailed as a lost classic of Bolivian modernism. Now available in English for the first time, this translation captures the lyrical qualities of Zamudio's prose as it vividly depicts how sexism, religious dogma, and prejudice prevented women from shaping their own destinies.

Review Quotes

"A gripping story of love, scandal, and family feuds set in 1907 Cochabamba, Bolivia. Though written over a century ago, Adela Zamudio's feminism is plain for all to see. Laura Nagle's excellent translation has at last made this pioneering novel available to English readers."

"This first English translation of Íntimas (Confidences) constitutes an important event in Latin American literary and gender studies."

About the Author

ADELA ZAMUDIO (1854-1928) composed poetry in Spanish and Quechua and published numerous short stories and articles, often using the pen name Soledad. She is remembered today as a pioneer in the Bolivian feminist movement, a fierce advocate for girls' education, and one of her country's finest poets.

LAURA NAGLE translates prose and poetry from French, Spanish, and Irish. Her work includes the first complete English translation of Prosper Mérimée's 1827 hoax, Songs for the Gusle, and her translations of contemporary short fiction have appeared in The Southern Review, Southword, and Latin American Literature Today. She resides in Indianapolis, Indiana.

GIOVANNA RIVERO is a Bolivian novelist and short story writer. She is the author of six short story collections, including Fresh Dirt from the Grave, which was longlisted for the 2024 Queen Sofía Spanish Institute Translation Prize. She has also published four novels and two children's books and is currently an assistant professor of Spanish creative writing and literature at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.