Author: Miguel Pajares
- Fiction
- Plataforma Editorial
- ISBN: 9788415750772
- Release Date: 01-01-2013
-Reviewed by: Maria del Carmen Rivero
Cautivas, by Miguel Pajares, is the author's first novel in a detective noir style about human sexual trafficking- a phenomenon that is awareness is now in the forefront. The author, as a professor of Anthropology at the University of Barcelona, has a unique position in analyzing this subject because his novel is based on many studies, interviews and organization that have dealt directly with victims of human trafficking for sexual ends. He does a very good job in handling this very sordid subject with compelling characters, two subplots, and with a very realistic setting based on his studies on the subject. His position has given him the possibility to interview, review and work with activist in human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
The main protagonist, Nevena's traumatic trip as a Bulgarian sex slave who escaped this underworld of crime but whose past returns to haunt her , and also her daughter- Mariana- about 12 years later. By then, Nevena had managed to become a translator and work for Barcelona's City Hall. The novel opens when Yolanda, a Colombian, prostitute is murdered and the protagonist, Nevena, is kidnapped. Her daughter is also kidnaapped in Bulgaria.
The author then plunges us into the world of organized crime, corruption in the former Eastern bloc, and the desire of many immigrants to find jobs in Western Europe. All these worlds collide. This desire of Nevena to find a better life and job is what lands her in prostitution against her will at at an early age.
As detective Samnuel Moncada, from Barcelona, and activist Teresa, try to solve the kidnapping of Nevena and her daughter, and the murder of Yolanda, they uncover many details about her past. The novel is also rich in details of former Eastern bloc underworld, but Western Europe is not except from this either and the author sends the reader a message that without the complicity of the West, and more controversial, of its own victims in some cases.
Probably one of the most important points the author makes about this important subject is when Nevena, in her initial captivity, learns from another prostitute- Mileidy a cuban refugee that while not all, but a lot of the sex slave trade is based more on psychological captivity than real bondage. Mileidy does not understand why Nevena is so afraid and does not leave on her own accord. By that time, Nevena is in Spain and has the possibility to escape but it is too demoralize to try. Mileydi helps her decide if she wants to continue as a sex worker but not a slave, or she wants something else. Nevena answer is a definete no to being a sex worker on her own free will. Miledy continues as a prostitute but she is on her own.
The author is aware of the subtleties between real sex slavery or bondage and psychological slavery. Also, there are differences between human trafficking, prostitution and illegal immigration even though some of these elements sometimes collide. The author is very good of explaining the subtleties of the sex trade beyond the one-dimensional headlines that abound and render the novel a bit more depth to just another trendy headline catcher for Western audiences. It is important to know the difference between old fashion prostitution and our modern sensibilities of labelling human sex trafficking to this trade.
