The story of Chile´s most disturbing murders.
The Murderers (Las homicidas) is a compilation of stories based on real events, revolving around four female murderers in Chile during the 20th century, and how they were judged based on their gender.
Alia analyzes how society and the media reacted towards women, destined to live within the domestic gender roles putting them in their place, revolting.
The story of Corina Rojas is the first case, an aristocrat in 1916. Together with her foreign lover, they cruelly murdered Corina´s husband and she was later sentenced to the death penalty.
In the second story, we follow the life of Rosa Faúndez in the 1920´s. Rosa used to sell newspapers and was the culprit in her husband’s murder. She cut him into many pieces and threw him into the river, covered in newspaper. Rosa ended up confessing to the murder, but the crime was so absurd that nobody believed her because “a woman wasn´t capable of something like that”.
Carolina Geel is the main character of the third case. Geel was a well-known writer who, in the 50´s, shot the man who had proposed to her five times. During her time in prison, the author wrote a book that not only would make her famous, but that was also used as evidence against her in her own case.
Last but not least, The Murderers (Las homicidas) lets Teresa Alfaro´s story come to light. Teresa was a maid and nanny who poisoned the three kids she was taking care of as revenge on her employers.
The Murderers (Las homicidas) analyzes how these four women committed crimes that not only surpassed the laws of criminality, but also the laws of gender norms. A perturbing and unsettling story that moves along the lines of a crime story and social criticism.
RELEVANT DATA: The Murderers (Las homicidas) was a finalist for the Man Booker Prize, and was considered one of most important literary debuts of the year. Its author, Alia Trabucco, is Latin American literature´s newest revelation.
What the critics have said:
«Entertaining, intelligently and well written book that, in its process of defaming male chauvanism, it reflects upon the power of the story – literature, judicial sentences, news, chronicles, pictures – and its ability to intervene in someones life.» Marta Sanz, Babelia
«Provocative, disturbing, deep and accurate: perfect for understanding the evolution of feminist movements and how these changed gender norms placed on women.» Esther Maria García Pastor, La Huella Digital
«A magnificent book. […] Trabucco is swayed by the resentment and uses jealousy as a deeply profound driving force, revealing notions of class within social relationships. » J. Ernesto Ayala-Dip, El Correo Español
«An excellent research, Trabucco adds to her investigation diary. A lurid, intelligent and necessary book. » Liliana Colanzi, El País
AUDIOVISUAL POTENTIAL: In development.
LANGUAGES AVAILABLE: Spanish, English.
