Oshun's Daughters: The Search for Womanhood in the Americas

Title Page, Copyright, Dedication

OSHUN’S DAUGHTERS OSHUN’S DAUGHTERS The Search for WOMANHOOD in the AMERICAS V A N E S S A K . V A L D É S Published by State University of New York Press, Albany© 2014 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY www.sunypress.edu Production by Ryan Morris Marketing by Anne M. Valentine. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Valdés, Vanessa Kimberly. Oshun’s daughters : the search for womanhood in the Americas / Vanessa K. Valdés. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4384-5043-8 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Women and literature— America. 2. Yoruba (African people) in literature. 3. African diaspora. 4. Women in literature. 5. Cuban literature—Women authors—History and criticism. 6. Brazilian literature—Women authors—History and criticism. 7. Yoruba (African people)—Cuba. 8. Yoruba (African people)—Brazil. I. Title. PN56.3.A45V35 2014 809’.89287097--dc23 2013017499 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This work is dedicated to Robert Valdes Jr., con todo mi cariño, and to Rose Donegan Bess (Miss Rose), without whose generosity of protective space and love this work would not have been produced ...