The Girls From the Orange Grove

A lyrical and irreverent approach to the historical character of the Lieutenant Nun, who was born in Spain as a girl in 1592 and joined the Conquest of America disguised as a man. "So sharp, so urgent, so brave. Gabriela Cabezón Cámara is one of the most authentic voices writing in Spanish at this moment, and among all her talents, there is one that becomes increasingly difficult: not only does she dig and challenge, not only does she dare to venture into darkness, but she also offers us in return the subversive courage to think of ourselves as more human, more alive and luminous than ever before." - Samanta Schweblin.

To fulfill his promise to his Virgin of the Orange Grove--who saved him from the gallows--Antonio escapes with two starving girls. In the jungle, as vibrant as an animal composed of many, he begins a letter to his aunt, prioress of the convent he fled from as a novice. He has been a mule driver, shopkeeper, soldier, cabin boy, and page; he has wielded a sword and plunged a dagger. Now he must take care of a flock and Michi and Mitãkuña, who constantly interrupt him with difficult questions. The author finds in Catalina de Erauso, the legendary Lieutenant Nun, a narrator for the cruel destruction of America, allowing her to challenge gender conventions. Where colonial greed destroys, this monumental novel lays the foundation for a new grammar of love, incorporating elements such as Miyazaki's films, prayers in Latin, songs in Basque, and the words of Guarani that break the meter of the Golden Age.

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