In the Time of the Butterflies
Description
In the waning days of the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic, three courageous sisters—Minerva, Patria, and María Teresa Mirabal—risk everything to join an underground resistance movement, knowing the deadly consequences of their defiance. Julia Alvarez masterfully weaves together historical fact and imaginative fiction to bring these real-life revolutionaries, known as "las mariposas" (the butterflies), to vivid life, tracing their journey from ordinary young women to fearless political activists. Through multiple perspectives—including the haunting recollections of their surviving sister Dedé and the intimate diary entries of María Teresa—the novel captures the mounting tension, sacrifice, and sisterhood that defined their struggle against tyranny. Alvarez's controlled, powerful prose illuminates both the personal costs of resistance and the extraordinary courage required to challenge an oppressive regime, creating an unforgettable portrait of women who chose principle over safety.
Available Editions
paperback
Plume
Published Jan 1, 1995
325 pages
ISBN: 9780452274426
paperback
Algonquin
Published Jan 1, 2010
352 pages
ISBN: 9781565129764
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Details
First Published
1995
Language
eng
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez.