Griselda Gambaro (born 1928) is a powerful, world-renowned, prize-winning playwright, novelist, and short story writer. For decades she has been creating allegorical dramas that deal with issues relating to the oppressive political and social environment of Argentina in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Although her characters and their situations offer a commentary on Argentine society and government, Gambaro's work reached beyond the country's borders to make universal statements about power dynamics, human nature, and the role women play in the larger social order.

From Humble Beginnings to Recognition

Gambaro is a second-generation Argentine with Italian roots. She was born in Buenos Aires on July 28, 1928. Growing up as the only girl amongst four older brothers in a poor family was not easy. Her father was a postal worker of limited economic means, tending to the most basic needs of his children. As a result, the young girl had little access...