El escritor y diplomático mexicano Federico Gamboa (1864-1939) ha pasado a la historia como uno de los intelectuales más representativos del régimen porfirista. La historia de "Santa", una muchacha que tras ser engañada y abandonada por un alférez es expulsada de su casa y acaba ejerciendo la prostitución, se erige en un símbolo de los tiempos y en un emblema sangrante que denuncia un sistema social injusto. Desde su publicación, "Santa" se convirtió en una de las novelas de mayor éxito en su país, con cinco adaptaciones cinematográficas, una canción de gran popularidad compuesta pro Agustín Lara y multitud de versiones teatrales que todavía hoy se producen en México.
"Chasteen provides an artistic, lyrical translation of Gamboa's striking and significant novel that captures the spirit and narrative of the story and the authorial intention of the novelist. Like Chasteen, I indulged in the sentimentality and reveled in the description of Mexico City."
-William H. Beezley, University of Arizona
"This dramatic, at times moving, at times racy, and beautifully-written novel was a best seller in early-twentieth-century Mexico. Modern readers will savor the rich evocation of the period's sights, scents, sounds, and, especially, language. A must for historians of Mexican culture and gender roles."
-Silvia Marina Arrom, Jane's Professor of Latin American Studies, Brandeis University
"Compelling. . . . This powerful tale draws the reader [in]. . . . Well conceived, well plotted, well written, and translated with verve by Chasteen, this novel will be a revelation to Anglophone readers. . . . Highly recommended."--"Choice"
"A south-of-the-border classic now in English. . . . [This is] the first-ever translation of the novel from Spanish into English. . . . It also tells us a lot about Mexico City at the turn of the twentieth century."--"Endeavors"
"John Charles Chasteen has brought to the English language what for Mexico was (for a while) the equivalent of "Lady Chatterley's Lover." . . . Highly enjoyable."--"Latin American Review of Books"
"The novel is held in high regard for its value as a social document. Moving with ease between government, law court and bordello, Gamboa had the advantage of being able to observe most levels of Mexican society, and "Santa" contains richly detailed
John Charles Chasteen has brought to the English language what for Mexico was (for a while) the equivalent of
Lady Chatterley's Lover. . . . Highly enjoyable.--
Latin American Review of Books The novel is held in high regard for its value as a social document. Moving with ease between government, law court and bordello, Gamboa had the advantage of being able to observe most levels of Mexican society, and
Santa contains richly detailed accounts of ordinary life and political activity in the years leading up to the Mexican Revolution. Chasteen's new translation wishes to make this formative novel accessible to a new generation of readers.--
Times Literary Supplement A south-of-the-border classic now in English. . . . [This is] the first-ever translation of the novel from Spanish into English. . . . It also tells us a lot about Mexico City at the turn of the twentieth century.--
Endeavors Compelling. . . . This powerful tale draws the reader [in]. . . . Well conceived, well plotted, well written, and translated with verve by Chasteen, this novel will be a revelation to Anglophone readers. . . . Highly recommended.--
Choice 
