'Tormento' Summary

Amparo is a young working woman who lives with her sister, Refugio, in 19th century Madrid. She works as a servant in the home of Francisco de Bringas and his wife, Rosalía Pipaón. One day, Agustín Caballero, a wealthy man from the Indies, arrives at the house and takes an interest in Amparo. Rosalía becomes jealous of Amparo and tries to sabotage her relationship with Agustín. When Agustín suddenly dies, Amparo is left to deal with the fallout of his death and the consequences of her forbidden love. Tormento is a complex and nuanced novel that explores the themes of love, jealousy, and social class. Galdós paints a vivid picture of life in 19th century Madrid and the challenges faced by women in that time.