Laura Esquivel (born September 30, 1950) is a Mexican author. She was born the third of four children of Julio César Esquivel, a telegraph operator, and his wife Josefa Valdés. In her first novel Como agua para chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate), released in 1989, Esquivel uses magical realism to combine the ordinary and the supernatural. The novel, taking place in nineteenth century Mexico, shows the importance of the kitchen in Esquivel's life. Esquivel believes that the kitchen is the most important part of the house and characterizes it as a source of knowledge and understanding that brings pleasure. The title refers to the boiling water used to prepare hot chocolate in Mexico. Like Water for Chocolate was developed into a film, which was released in 1993 concurrently with the book's English translation. In the United States, Like Water for Chocolate became one of the largest grossing foreign films ever released in the US. Esquivel earned the Mexican Academy of Motion Pictures award; she received eleven in all, from Ariel awards. In addition to magical realism, Ms. Esquivel has explored a variety of literary genres. Her most recent novel La Malinche is a historical novel, taking place in sixteenth century Central America. Esquivel characterized La Malinche, Hernan Cortez's translator and lover, as a strong woman - an ambassador and a genius. The novel includes an Aztec codex (by Jordi Castells) which acts as Malinche's own diary. Overall, contemporary literature in Spanish is vibrant and varied, ranging from the best-selling Isabel Allende to the more avant-garde and critically acclaimed work of writers such as Diamela Eltit, Giannina Braschi, Luisa Valenzuela, Ricardo Piglia, and Edmundo Paz Soldan. Esquivel has even taken a step into the future with The Law of Love, which takes place in the twenty-third century Mexico City. The theme of romantic love, particularly love thwarted, appears repeatedly throughout her novels, as does the setting in Mexico.
Bibliography
- Como agua para chocolate (1989) (English: Like Water for Chocolate)
- La ley del amor (1995) (English: The Law of Love)
- Íntimas suculencias (1998)
- Estrellita marinera (1999)
- El libro de las emociones (2000)
- Tan veloz como el deseo (2001) (English: Swift as Desire)
- Malinche (2006)
Currently, there are no actual websites on Laura Esquivel.
External links
- A study resource for Like Water for Chocolate
- http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=185854 A small Biography of Laura Esquivel
