Elena Poniatowska Book order

Born in Lancashire as the wealthy heiress to her British father's textiles empire, Leonora Carrington was destined to live the kind of life only known by the moneyed classes. But even from a young age she rebelled against the strict rules of her social class, against her parents and against the hegemony of religion and conservative thought, and broke free to artistic and personal freedom.Today Carrington is recognised as the key female Surrealist painter, and Poniatowska's fiction charms this exceptional character back to life more truthfully than any biography could. For a time Max Ernst's lover in Paris, Carrington rubbed elbows with Salvador Dalí, Marcel Duchamp, Joan Miró, André Breton and Pablo Picasso. When Ernst fled Paris at the outbreak of the Second World War, Carrington had a breakdown and was locked away in a Spanish asylum before escaping to Mexico, where she would work on the paintings which made her name. In the hands of legendary Mexican novelist Elena Poniatowska, Carrington's life becomes a whirlwind tribute to creative struggle and artistic revolution. Translated by Amanda Hopkinson.

In 1929, Modotti was accused of the murder of Julio Antonio Mella, her Cuban lover. She fled to the USSR to escape the Mexican press and then to Europe, where she became a Soviet secret agent and a nurse under an assumed name, returning to Mexico to meet an early death at the age of forty-five.

Elena Poniatowska's debut work features a young girl protagonist, which led to its classification as a children's book, despite its deeper themes. Originally published in 1954, "Lilus Kikus" has finally gained the recognition it deserves with this first American edition, which includes four additional short stories centered on female protagonists. These stories, with only one previously available in English, showcase Poniatowska's unique voice and perspective, highlighting her significance in Mexican literature.

Elena Poniatowska's novel expertly combines elements of journalism and fiction, offering a distinctive narrative style that captivates readers. The story delves into profound themes and showcases her skillful storytelling, reflecting her status as a celebrated author. Recognized for her literary contributions, Poniatowska's work invites readers to explore the intersection of reality and imagination, making it a significant addition to contemporary literature.