Ballad of Another Time

Sometimes a novel gives a better understanding of a culture than any number of sociological books. That is the case with this book. It has a familar story, the wife of a rich man runs away with one of his workers and the resulting story of the aftermath. The story, however takes place on the impoverished farms, in the coffee shops and cafes and with a country where the world can be described in three words: tobacco, coffee and sugar. The place where this culture takes place is Puerto Rico and the setting is 1936 truly 'another time.' This is not a long story, but very well regarded, winning a number of literary rewards, and a welcome addition to current literature.