Bitter Grounds : A Novel

Winner of the 1998 American Book Award

Spanning the years between 1932 and 1977, this beautifully told epic is set in the heart of El Salvador, where coffee plantations are the center of life for rich and poor alike. Following three generations of the Prieto Clan and the wealthy family they work for, this is the story of mothers and daughters who live, love, and die for their passions.

“Grabs us at the most visceral level . . . Benitez's clear writing and considerable imagination enable her to make the political personal, luminous, and even comic.” —Ms.

“An elegant epic . . . Benitez is a remarkable storyteller.” —The Denver Post

“Packs an emotional punch . . . A compelling read.” —The Boston Globe

“Explores passion, politics, love, death and betrayal in an intricately plotted mystery . . . Moving and lyrical.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune