María Ruiz de Burton’s novel ‘Who Would Have Thought It?’ is a thought-provoking and ground-breaking work that delves into issues of race, class, and gender in 19th-century America. Written in a sophisticated and elegant style, the narrative follows the story of Lola, a young Mexican girl who is adopted by an American family and struggles to find her place in a society that views her as an outsider. Through vivid characters and sharp social commentary, de Burton sheds light on the complexities and contradictions of American identity during this tumultuous period. The novel’s unique blend of realism and satire offers a compelling exploration of themes that are still relevant today. María Ruiz de Burton, a Mexican-American author, wrote ‘Who Would Have Thought It?’ as a response to the cultural conflicts and prejudices she observed in her own life. As one of the first Mexican-American writers to gain recognition in the United States, de Burton’s groundbreaking work paved the way for future Latinx voices in literature. Her personal experiences as a marginalized woman of color undoubtedly influenced the depth and authenticity of the novel’s themes and characters. I highly recommend ‘Who Would Have Thought It?’ to readers interested in exploring the intersection of race, class, and gender in American society. María Ruiz de Burton’s insightful and incisive novel offers a unique perspective on the complexities of identity and the enduring impact of cultural assimilation.
About the author
María Amparo Ruiz de Burton (1832–1895) was a pioneering Mexican-American novelist, the first female Mexican-American author to write in English, and a keen observer of the disparities and injustices in post-Civil War America. In her literary works, Ruiz de Burton addressed themes of race, ethnicity, gender, and class, thus providing a unique perspective on the American experience from the vantage point of a bicultural author. Her debut novel, ‘Who Would Have Thought It?’ (1872), is a satirical and critical examination of Yankee society through the eyes of a young Mexican-American girl named Lola. Displaying a literary style that intertwines biting irony with social commentary, Ruiz de Burton unflinchingly critiques the hypocrisy and moral corruption of 19th-century American society. The novel is considered a significant contribution to Chicano literature and early feminist literature, highlighting the complex interplay between nationality, identity, and assimilation, long before these issues became prominent in American discourse. Ruiz de Burton’s work resonated with a realism that was influenced by her own life as an aristocratic Mexican woman who married a U.S. military officer and navigated the cultural frontiers of her era. Despite her considerable talents and profound insights into the social fabrics of her time, her literary output remained largely unrecognized until late 20th-century scholars began to re-evaluate her contributions to American literature.
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