Celestina is an old witch and matchmaker whom everyone turns to for help with their love troubles. Calisto, desperate and mad with love, pays her a hundred gold coins to arrange a secret meeting with his beloved Melibea. From the shadows, the old woman pulls the strings, turning the young lovers into puppets she manipulates for money.
This version of the classic La Celestina (1499), adapted for young readers, maintains the tragic essence while simplifying the plot: the love between Calisto and Melibea, Celestina’s intervention, and the tragic conclusion. The brief text demonstrates a deep understanding of the original work, and the illustrations, in shades of purple, orange, and red, create a graphic narrative with a theatrical atmosphere.
Key points
2026 – 100 Recommended Books Award, Cuatrogatos Foundation, USA
• An accessible version of a great classic that remains faithful to the original, adapted for the picture book format.
• It’s part of a series created by the same team, which includes titles such as Quixote and Lazarillo.
• The book has a theatrical structure in which the characters are presented as actors on a stage.