Eduarda Mansilla

Eduarda Mansilla in 1875

Eduarda Damasia Mansilla Ortiz de Rozas de García (1834–1892) was a noted Argentine writer. She was the sister of Lucio V. Mansilla and niece of Juan Manuel de Rosas Her first novel under her own name was Pablo ou la via dans les pampas in 1869. As the title implies the novel was written in French. It concerned bringing order to the Pampas.^[1] The French language had esteem in Argentina and she had spent time in Paris. She also wrote of her visits to the United States where she sympathized with the Native Americans in the United States, while nevertheless emphasizing them as primitive, but also sympathized with the slave-owners of the Confederate States of America. In life she had to deal with men of conflicting political beliefs as her husband was the son of an opponent of Juan Manuel de Rosas.^[2]

Eduarda Mansilla

Early life

Eduarda Mansilla was formally trained to be a musician. Growing up in Buenos Aires she had learned to play the piano. This particular aspect of her up bringing was a result of the prevalent social norms of the times, which dictated that people of high social standing be well versed in music. Mansilla even composed music, and had published some of them.^[3]

Family portrait taken during Eduarda Mansilla's U.S. visit, 1861.

Her musical training manifested in her writings as well. Music as a subject, its performance, and references to musical instruments are common in her literary works.

References

1. Francine Masiello. Between civilization & barbarism: women, nation, and literary culture in modern Argentina. U of Nebraska Press. pp. 40–. ISBN 0-8032-3158-X.
2. Mónica Szurmuk (1 December 2000). Women in Argentina: Early Travel Narratives. University Press of Florida. pp. 55–. ISBN 978-0-8130-3122-4.
3. Garcia-Mansilla Manuel, Rafael. "Eduarda Mansilla and Music". Retrieved 24 January 2014.