Today, October 15, marks the International Day of Rural Women. Those who devote attention to this often vulnerable group should also consider the images chosen to speak for them. In our time, a message rarely gains traction unless it comes with a winsome figure, a touch of naiveté, something informal and easy to like, or a striking black‑and‑white photograph—or, at best, a graceful image in color. Without such devices, few will look twice.

I have the impression that most people who used to read regularly and are now in their fifties or sixties once had a symbolic affair with Ernest Hemingway. In 1980s Cuba, profitability was never a serious consideration. Publishing houses flooded the streets with thousands of volumes sold for next to nothing—often cheaper than a plain cheese pizza. Even so, the books gathered dust in the shops. Among them, Hemingway’s complete works could be found without effort.