Originally published in 1944 and in a sparkling new translation by Edith Grossman, Carmen Laforet's debut novel, loosely based on her own life, is a classic of the literature of post-Civil War Barcelona. Residing amid genteel poverty in a mysterious house on Calle de Aribau, young Andrea falls in with a wealthy band of schoolmates who provide a rich counterpoint to the squalor of her home life. As experience overtakes innocence, Andrea gradually learns the disquieting truth about the people she shares her life with: her overbearing and superstitious aunt Angustias; her nihilistic yet artistically gifted uncle Roma n and his violent brother Juan; and Juan' s disturbingly beautiful wife, Gloria, who secretly supports the clan with her gambling. From existential crisis to a growing maturity and resolve, Andrea' s passionate inner journey leaves her wiser, stronger, and filled with hope for the future.  (SPN346, $15.95)