Kiss of the Spider Woman

by Manuel Puig, Allan Baker (Translator), Sally Mears (Foreword)

Two men are thrown together in a Buenos Aires cell. Sometimes they talk all night to entertain each other. Molina is older, gay, and likes to recount his favourite romantic movies. Valentin, young and idealistic, believes in changing the world. Molina believes that only love makes the world bearable.
Although they have little in common, a deep bond develops between them, soon to be tested by the prison guards…

88 pages, Paperback

Published December 31, 2025

About the author

Manuel Puig (born Juan Manuel Puig Delledonne) was an Argentinian author. Among his best known novels are La traición de Rita Hayworth (1968) (Betrayed by Rita Hayworth), Boquitas pintadas (1969) (Heartbreak Tango), and El beso de la mujer araña (1976) (Kiss of the Spider Woman), which was made into a film by the Argentine-Brazilian Director, Héctor Babenco and in 1993 into a Broadway musical.

Reviews

[ronja · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

I’ve been meaning to read Kiss of the Spider Woman for a few years now but haven't gotten around to it yet, so I was very happy when I got the opportunity to read this play version! Knowing this was written back 1976, you realise how well ahead of its time the author and story were, as it touches on a lot of important topics, such as sexuality, gender, and equality. The introduction at the beginning of the play offers a deeper understanding of Manuel Puig as an author and person as well as the historical context of the novel's publication and its progression from the book to its many adaptations. And then, in only 88 pages, the play manages to make you feel for the characters and be invested in what will happen to them in the end. I now can't wait to read the original novel and watch a movie adaptation of this story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Aurora Metro Books for the eArc!

[Katy Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicate, devastating and so well written that even though this is a play script I could picture it all perfectly in my head as I read along. I have never seen the film and now, in the absence of it being on stage I will hunt it out and watch it. The translation is brilliant and the whole thing works perfectly.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading a play is not always a rewarding experience, but Puig's adaptation of his novel has a vibrancy that makes it a pleasure to read: the developing connection of the two disparate characters shines through from the dialogue alone.

A wonderful reading experience.

Received via NetGalley.

[Ariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me sacó de un bloque lector de casi un año. Una novela adaptada al teatro muy cortita, con dos personajes entrañables.
La primera vez que leo Puig, gran primer encuentro.