"Doña Perfecta" is a novel with great accusatory power, vividly depicting the Spanish society of the writer’s time. A young engineer, Pepe Rey, arrives in the provincial town of Orbajosa, invited by his wealthy aunt, Doña Perfecta. He hopes to find here patriarchal simplicity of morals. But as Pepe Rey gets acquainted with the local society led by the predatory and tyrannical Doña Perfecta, he first sees it with surprise—and then with horror—that the environment he will have to live in is a realm of ignorance and prejudice. Rey falls in love with Doña Perfecta’s daughter, Rosario. Trying to tear her away from this world, he is killed by an assassin hired by Doña Perfecta. Doña Perfecta sees in Pepe not only an unwelcome suitor for the role of son-in-law, but also a person with new, alien viewpoints—an опасний нарушитель общественного порядка.