Leopoldo Alas
La Regenta
"La Regenta" by Leopoldo Alas is a novel published in 1884-1885. Set in the provincial Spanish city of Vetusta, it tells the story of Ana Ozores, a young woman trapped in a loveless marriage to an older magistrate. Suffering from isolation and unfulfilled desires, she becomes the object of affection for two men: a charismatic seducer and a conflicted priest. Her internal struggle intensifies as she navigates social pressures, spiritual yearning, and forbidden temptations in a hypocritical society.