In the Time of The Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez, is a work of historical fiction based on the true story of the four Mirabal sisters who fought for freedom from the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the mid to late 20th century in the Dominican Republic. Three of the sisters, Patria, Maria Teresa, and Minerva, tell their story in first person narration. The fourth sister’s story, Dede’s, is told by a third person omniscient. In addition to discussing the book, Ligia will give a short description of the Dominican Republic during the horrific reign of Trujillo. In the last two weeks of class, Ligia will include a viewing of the movie based on the novel, offering you an opportunity to learn about the fight for freedom of the Dominican people.

To get the full value of the class, participants are encouraged to read the novel prior to class.


LLI Coordinator: Jo Anne Renton