A towering figure in Hispanic literature, Avellaneda defied 19th-century norms through her writing and life. Born in Cuba, she moved to Spain, where her plays and novels like Sab challenged slavery and women’s oppression. Her lyrical poetry and bold themes earned her accolades, though she was denied a seat in the Spanish Royal Academy due to her gender. Avellaneda’s work remains foundational for Latin American feminist and anti-colonial thought.