Mara de Zayas and her Tales of Desire, Death and Disillusion... - 9781855663602

Mara de Zayas and her Tales of Desire, Death and DisillusionAuthor(s): Margaret R Greer\nFormat: Hardback\nPublisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd, United Kingdom\nImprint: Tamesis Books\nISBN-13: 9781855663602, 978-1855663602\nSynopsis\nWho doubts, my reader, that you will be amazed that a woman has the audacity not only to write a book, but to send it for printing, which is the crucible in which the purity of genius is tested'?\n\nA pioneer of early modern feminism, Mara de Zayas y Sotomayor wrote poetry, drama and prose but is best known for two page-turning collections of short stories: Exemplary Tales of Love [tel] and Tales of Disillusion [tel]. This book provides an engaging introduction to Zayas and her work. It begins by relating what we know of her life, placing her in her socio-political and economic context and addressing the issue of women's literacy. Following chapters examine her use of sexual desire, violence and humour in her tales; her narrative structures; and her oral.