Of Love and Other DemonsOf Love and Other Demons is set in a South American seaport in the colonial era, a time of viceroys and bishops, enlightened men and Inquisitors, saints and lepers and pirates. Sierva Maria, only child of a decaying noble family, has been raised in the slaves' courtyard of her father's cobwebbed mansion while her mother succumbs to fermented honey and cacao on a faraway plantation. On her twelfth birthday the girl is bitten by a rabid dog, and even as the wound is healing she is made to endure therapies indistinguishable from tortures. Believed, finally, to be possessed, she is brought to a convent for observation. And into her cell stumbles Father Cayetano Delaura, the Bishop's protege, who has already dreamed about a girl with hair trailing after her like a bridal train; who is already moved by this kicking, spitting, emaciated creature strapped to a stone bed. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Abbess Abrenuncio Amor de Dios asked bedroom believe Bernarda Bishop bitten body breath brought burning cacao Cayetano Delaura cell chair Clarissans cloister convent courtyard dared daughter death demon Dios Hospital djellaba doctor Dominga de Adviento Doña Olalla door dressed Dulce Olivia eclipse EDITH GROSSMAN everything exorcism eyes face floor Gabriel García Márquez García Márquez gave girl girl's hair hammock hand harquebus heart Holy Office horse knew Latin learned lived looked Marquis Martina Laborde mastiffs necklaces never night novices nuns opened pavilion Penguin Books physician Portobelo prison rabies realized replied returned Sagunta Sanctuary Lamp Santa Clara Santería seemed Señor Marquis shouted Sierva María siesta sighed silence slave women sleep soul spoke stopped sugar plantation swallow shit terrace theorbo thing told took tunic turned Vicereine Viceroy voice warder window woman write to Penguin Yoruban Yucatán