The ten writers included here rose to prominence in the last decade of
the twentieth century. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba
underwent a drastic economic contraction that brought about an explosion
of feminine narrative writing, largely in a need to reinforce the
self-esteem so essential in moments of crisis and uncertainty. For the
first time in Cuban literature, women focused on topics long con-sidered
taboo--sexuality, eroticism, domestic violence, drug addiction,
pedophilia--to bring attention to the social and moral crisis brought
about by the loss of Soviet support. Writers include Ana Lidia Vega
Serova, Karla Suarez, Marilyn Bobes, Adelaida Fernandez de Juan, Nancy
Alonso, Aida Bahr, Ena Lucia Portela, Mirta Yanez, Mylene Fernandez
Pintado, and Sonia Bravo Utrera.