In the Midst of Winter

Born in Santiago, Chile, Lucia Maraz grew up with a single mother and brother who became one of the “disappeared people” during the time of Chile’s dictatorship. Despite having been a political exile, losing her mother, enduring a heartbreaking divorce, and surviving cancer, Lucia maintains a persistent zeal for life. As a visiting professor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at New York University and an author of several books about the “disappeared people” in Chile, she is a poised and respected scholar whose dedication to her field is motivated by her personal stake in the subject matter. The loss of her brother Enrique plagues her mother until the end of her life. The knowledge of this assorted pain has led her colleague and later lover Richard to refer to her as “wise because she had suffered” (73). Lucia’s wisdom along with her compassion enables her to be a voice of empathy when Evelyn seeks their help.

To add to her life’s obstacles, Lucia also suffered in love. In the novel, Lucia finds love again through her budding romance with Richard. However, this does not happen easily as her past partners have not exhibited her level of devotion.