Kiss of the Spider Woman

by Manuel Puig

Overview

Kiss of the Spider Woman is a graceful, intensely compelling novel about love and victimization. In an Argentine prison, two men share a cell: Molina, a gay window dresser who is self-centered, self-denigrating, yet charming as well; and Valentin, an articulate, fiercely dogmatic revolutionary haunted by memories of a woman he left for the cause. Both are gradually transformed by their guarded but growing friendship and by Molina’s obsession with the fantasy and romance of the movies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780679724490
Publisher:	Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/03/1991
Series:	Vintage International
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	150,387
Product dimensions:	5.26(w) x 7.98(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Manuel Puig is the acclaimed author of many novels, including Betrayed by Rita Hayworth, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and The Buenos Aires Affair. He was born in Argentina in 1932 and died in Mexico in 1990.

Editorial Reviews

Based on Manuel Puig's novel, director Hector Babenco's movie deftly handles delicate material in the first independent film to get an Oscar® nod for best picture. William Hurt earned a best actor win for his affecting portrayal of Molina, the gaudily gay cellmate of tortured political prisoner Valentin (Raul Julia), whom he placates with movie stories. Subtitled trivia in lieu of audio commentary fascinates with production tidbits. For all collections. Includes the documentary Tangled Web: Making of Kiss of the Spider Woman.

—Jeff T. Dick

Library Journal