Quiero Vivir Mi Vida / Punal De Claveles

by De Burgos, Carmen; Larson, Susan

• ISBN13: 9781934768280
• ISBN10: 1934768286
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-10-15
• Publisher: Gardners Books

Summary

Carmen de Burgos (1867-1932) one of Madrid¿s best-known authors during the changes to modernity, produced 12 novels, 57 short stories, translations, manuals of feminine behavior and newspaper articles. A passionate promoter of women civil rights in Spain, her works open a window to popular literature, politics and social concerns of almost a century ago. This edition includes two of Burgos¿s 1931 works: the novel «Quiero vivir mi vida», and the short story «Puñal de claveles». The novel was dedicated to Gregorio Marañón, as an homage due to his studies of intersexuality. Likewise, in his prologue to the novel (included in this edition), Marañón praises Burgos for her clear understanding of his theories and the incorporation of his concept of intersexuality into the development of the characters. The murder known as the «crime of Nijar» (Almería, 1928) is the basis for the plot of Burgos¿s «Puñal de claveles» as well as for Lorca¿s play «Bodas de sangre» (1932). What in Lorca¿s hands became a poetic tragedy, for Burgos ¿the feminist¿ became a story about the need for women to have the opportunity to escape traditional gender roles. Unlike «Bodas de sangre», «Punal de claveles¿s» happy ending is directed towards a mass (and largely female) audience. This critical edition by Susan Larson includes Marañón¿s essay «Sobre el sentido de los celos» an introduction which includes a comparison of «Puñal de claveles» to Lorca¿s «Bodas de sangre» as well as notes to help the reader understand Burgos¿s work in social and cultural context.