Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel explains the role of women in northern Mexico in the early 19th century. The novel is set in northern Mexico on a family ranch where many family traditions are carried on. Additionally, the novel describes some of the typical foods prepared and holidays celebrated in Mexican culture during this time. However, the novel mainly focuses on the roles of women in Mexican society at the time. The novel goes beyond explaining the roles of women and also explains what happened in the Mexican family. Throughout the novel, readers learn about the role of mothers, the conflict between personal desires and tradition, typical foods, celebrations, and family traditions that were important to a Mexican family. An author's background plays a significant role in why he or she writes a novel. History is often written about its culture. Laura Esquivel, writer, teacher and screenwriter, was born in Mexico City, Mexico. Laura Esquivel was born the third of four children to a middle-class family. Laura Esquivel's biography from the website "The Biography Channel" states that "Laura Esquivel often explores the relationship between men and women in Mexico in her work" is obvious from the way Esquivel describes the traditional roles of men and women in Mexico which her background played an important role in her work (“Laura Esquivel”). Laura Esquivel's novels are still loved and appreciated today due to her "creative flair and style in her work" ("Laura Esquivel"). Laura Esquivel found inspiration for her novel from her personal experience and time spent in the kitchen. In “Literature of Developing Nations for Students,” there is a section about...... middle of paper...... Luis Alberto Vargas. np: Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2005., 2005. Tri-County Tech College Catalog. Network. February 27, 2014.Mujica, Barbara. “‘Like Water for Chocolate’ (book review).” Americas 45.4 (July-August 1993): 60. Rpt. in Developing Nations Literature for Students: Presenting analysis, context, and criticism on the literature of developing nations. Ed. Elizabeth Bellalouna, Michael L. LaBlanc and Ira Mark Milne. vol. 2. Detroit: Gale Group, 2000. Literature Resource Center. Network. February 5, 2014.Salisbury, Joyce E. and Andrew E Kersten. "Eras / 20th-Century Latin America / Family Life in 20th-Century Latin America." Daily life through history. ABC-CLIO, 2014. Web. 5 February 2014. Standish, Peter, Steven M. Bell. "Social life, free time and food". Culture and customs of Mexico. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood, 2004. ABC-CLIO eBook Collection. Network. February 5 2014.