La Regenta is a masterpiece penned by Leopoldo Alas, also known as "Clarín". This novel paints a vivid picture of the bourgeois and urban society, dominated by a decadent nobility, selfish clergy, and political bosses.

The story revolves around Ana Ozores, a representative of this society, caught in the throes of seduction and adultery. Influenced by the naturalist school rooted in Zola and Maupassant, yet still tied to romantic arguments, this work is heralded as the best novel of 19th-century Spain.

Set in the conservative provincial town of Vetusta, Ana, married to a retired magistrate, seeks fulfillment through religion and even adultery. This quest sparks a bitter conflict between a powerful priest and a would-be Don Juan for Ana's body and soul, offering a searing critique of the Church and a frank treatment of societal norms.