Rays of Light

This fictional work takes place within the real historical setting of a country in quest of its freedom. The year is 1894 and the place is Cuba, my homeland. The country was preparing itself for a second gruesome war against Spain after an unsuccessful previous attempt at liberation which lasted ten years. In order to achieve victory, the Spanish government in Cuba instituted "reconcentration camps", precursors of Nazi concentration camps that resulted in the death of 25% of Cuba's population. The story presented is about a girl in the process of becoming a woman. Although a work of fiction, some of what may appear to be fictional, may be the most factual parts of the story. The young woman whom you will meet in this book is by not means a fictional character. She was my grandmother.