A refreshing summer read.

This is a beautiful novel written by Françoise de Graffigny.  It is a timeless literary treasure that I just happened to stumble upon.  I couldn't put this short book down.  It is a beautifully written novel from the perspective of an Inca virgin from ancient Peru.

Letters of a Peruvian Woman recounts the story of Zilia, an Inca Virgin of the Sun, who is captured by the Spanish conquistadores and brutally separated from her lover, Aza. She is rescued and taken to France by Déterville, a nobleman, who is soon captivated by her. The novel portrays Zilia's feelings on her separation from both her lover and her culture, and her experience of a new and alien society. By fusing sentimental fiction and social commentary, Françoise de Graffigny created a new kind of heroine, defined by her intellect as much as her feelings and challenging traditional assumptions about the role of women both in fiction and society.

You can buy it here on Amazon.com.