In The Time of The Butterflies: A Big Read Documentary
Series: The Big Read
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Length: 00:29:55
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez transports us to the Dominican Republic in the mid-twentieth century when the country struggled under the brutal dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. A work of historical fiction, the novel honors the lives of Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa Mirabal, who became icons of freedom and women’s rights when they were assassinated in the autumn of 1960 for their role in the underground movement against Trujillo’s regime.
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez transports us to the Dominican Republic in the mid-twentieth century when the country struggled under the brutal dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. A work of historical fiction, the novel honors the lives of Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa Mirabal, who became icons of freedom and women’s rights when they were assassinated in the autumn of 1960 for their role in the underground movement against Trujillo’s regime.
Transcript
In the Time of the Butterflies
Audio Guide - Transcript
Jo Reed: Now, The Big Read…
Adriana Sananes reads from In the Time of the Butterflies…
A chill goes through her, for she feels it in her bones, the future is now beginning. By the time it is over, it will be the past, and she doesn't want to be the only one left to tell their story.
Reed: That was actress Adriana Sananes reading from Julia Alvarez's In the Time of the Butterflies. Welcome to The Big Read, a program created by the National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The largest reading program in American history, The Big Read is designed to unite communities through great literature.
Neko Case: It's a backward look through time of four sisters, the Mirabal sisters, who were revolutionaries, underground revolutionaries during the reign of the dictator Trujillo.
Ila...
Read the full transcript
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ay Mariposa | Pedro Luis Ferrer | Before Night Falls (soundtrack). | Universal Music Group | 2001 | 00:00 |
| Balloon Escapes | Carter Burwell | Before Night Falls (soundtrack. | Universal Music Group | 2001 | 00:00 |
| En el campo | National Heritage Fellow Edwin Colón Zayas | 100% Puertorriqueño. | 1992 | 00:00 | |
| rift | jeffrey roden | seeds of happiness. | big tree music | 2009 | 00:00 |
| Original guitar music | Jorge F. Hernandez | 00:00 | |||
| Sonata in G Minor | José Antonio Escobar (Bach) | Guitar Recital . | Naxos of America | 2001 | 00:00 |
| Un día de Noviembre | Graham Anthony Devine (Leo Brouwer) | Guitar Music Volume 3. | Naxos of America | 2003 | 00:00 |
| Elegía por la muerte de un tanguero: Melancolía | Ricardo Cobo (Máximo Diego Pujol) | Latin American Guitar Music. | Naxos of America | 2003 | 00:00 |
| Gaspard de la Nuit | François-Joël Thiollier (Ravel) | Piano Works Volume 2. | Naxos of America | 1994 | 00:00 |
Additional Credits
Written and produced by Adam Kampe.
“Ay Mariposa” used by permission of Pedro Luís Ferrer (SGAE) and “Balloon Escapes” used by permission of Carter Burwell and Best Possible Music (ASCAP).
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