Magdalena Hernández y Castells (1884-1976) was born in Havana and resided in El Vedado (Cuba). She had a great love of reading and her well-stocked library was frequently visited by relatives and friends. In 1950 she wrote a memoir of her life at the request of her youngest daughter.

Rosario P. Vickery was born in Havana and studied in the United States. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and French from St. Mari's Dominican College in New Orleans, Louisiana. She also holds a Master's in French from Appalachian State University in North Carolina, as well as...