The Lamps of Albarracín with Edith Scott Saavedra

The Lamps of Albarracín(in Spanish, Los Candiles de Albarracín) is a fictional first person narrative by a Sephardic girl that recounts the arrival of the Spanish Inquisition into the Kingdom of Aragon in the 1480's. It is based on extensive review of Spanish Inquisition testimony and historical research, most notably the works of Prof. Mary Halavais on Morisco identity in pre-Expulsion Aragon and Prof. David Gitlitz on the impact of the Spanish Inquisition of persons of Judaic heritage.

This novel tells the true story of a city's resistance to the arrival of King Ferdinand's inquisitor, long suppressed by the Spanish Monarchy and Church. A woman's narrative, the text brings alive the historical figure of Brianda de Besante, an unsung heroine of resistance to the Inquisition. It also brings alive the multicultural Spain of the early Renaissance -- religion, spirituality, arts and crafts, houses of worship, songs and ballads, recipes and fashion. 

Its Spanish-language edition,Los Candiles de Albarracín, has been on the bestseller list in the categories Hispano-American Fiction and Jewish Literature on Amazon Spain, and has received recognition in the Spanish media (Libertad Digital, Aragon Radio, El Periodico de Aragon, El Heraldo de Aragon and El Diario de Teruel) and international recognition via Radio Sefarad Madridin both English and Spanish language podcasts as well asSfarad.es and eSefarad (Spain) and Semanario Hebreo (Uruguay). It will receive upcoming mention by Professor Yitzchak Kerem in the journal Sefarad (Israel).

Edith Scott Saavedra earned a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Harvard University. At Harvard, she studied Spanish literature with Professor Juan Marichal. While an undergraduate at Harvard, she also studied political philosophy, history and social theory. Ms. Scott earned a juris doctor cum laude from the Harvard Law School. She has had a distinguished career as an international lawyer, business consultant and author. Ms. Scott is the co-author of several leading works on the competitiveness of industries, regions and nations. The Lamps of Albarracín/Los Candiles de Albarracín is her first novel.