Tales from the Italian and Spanish, Vol. 7: Pepita Jimenez and Marta and Maria

In Pepita Jim幯ez, a devout seminarian returns to his hometown only to be captivated by a vivacious young widow-his father's intended bride. As inner conflict mounts, he must choose between sacred vows and earthly passion. In Marta and Mar燰, two sisters represent opposing paths: one wholly spiritual, the other drawn to romantic and worldly concerns. Their lives unfold in the rigid moral framework of 19th-century Spanish society, where women's roles are dictated by tradition and religious orthodoxy. Both novels examine the collision of duty and emotion, the silence of women's inner lives, and the yearning for self-determination. Rich in psychological insight and cultural critique, these works offer a vivid portrait of Spain's soul in an era of change.

Juan Valera y Alcal?Galiano (1824-1905), was a Spanish realist author, writer and political figure, best known for Pepita Jim幯ez which depicts a young seminarian's gradual of the empty vanity of his vocation, culminating in a shattering denouement. Armando Palacio Vald廥 (1853-1938) was a Spanish novelist and critic. His Marta y Maria portrays of the struggle between religious vocation and earthly passion, somewhat in the manner of Valera.