This course explores outstanding contemporary fiction by women writers from Spain and Latin America. From a gender-bending short story to a supernatural memoir to a gripping war novel, these works provide a window into life and literature in Spain, Argentina, Chile, and Puerto Rico. The primary goal of the course is to analyze outstanding works as individual literary creations, while situating them in their literary, historical, cultural, and critical contexts. An ancillary goal is the development of independent research skills in Spanish. The emphasis is on intensive reading (fewer works covered in depth), personalized writing practice, and discussion. Two novels from the MA Reading List will be covered: El cuarto de atrás by Carmen Martín Gaite and La amortajada by María Luisa Bombal. This graduate course meets with an honors undergraduate section.