One of the most popular novels of the eighteenth century, the 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 Deterville, 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, Francoise de Graffigny created a new kind of heroine, defined by her intellect...