A novel of cultural and emotional divides-and the consequences of obsessive love-from the author of An Honorable Profession, a New York Times Notable Book.

The Shrine at Altamira by John L'Heureux has the simple shape and powerful impact of Greek tragedy. When Maria Corazon Alvarez meets Russell Whitaker at a school dance, she sees his blue eyes and solid American name as a ticket out of the ghetto into a better life. They dance, they touch, they tumble into a love so strong and elemental it should last forever. But gradually the balance shifts; he loves her more, she loves him less. When their son is born, Maria gives him all her love and Russell is pushed aside. Wild, obsessed, Russell runs mad and his desperate love becomes a fire that consumes them all.

"Mesmerizing... A powerful and affecting story about love's most anguished and disturbing permutations." -Timothy Hunter, The Plain Dealer

The author of over twenty volumes, which include poetry, short story collections, and novels, John L'Heureux is a highly distinguished writer. He has taught at Georgetown University, Tufts, Harvard, and served as Lane Professor of Humanities in the English department at Stanford University for over thirty-five years.

He has received numerous favorable reviews in the New York Times and elsewhere for his poetry and novels; writing Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts upon two occasions; and was awarded a Guggenheim Grant to do research for his novel, The Medici Boy. This is all in addition to having twice received the Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching, and many other tributes to his talent and developed skills.

John L'Heureux is now retired and lives in California with his wife Joan, also a teacher and writer.