Steps Under Water is a novel drawn from Alicia Kozameh’s experiences as a political prisoner in Argentina during the “Dirty War” of the 1970s.

“Kozameh’s skillful and obviously deeply felt blending of hair-raising narrative with thoughtful moral reflection keeps the reader off balance and in suspense. One of the best fictional monuments to the ‘the disappeared,’ and a memorable characterization of its central figure—a courageous heroine who is unquestionably an autobiographical figure.”—Kirkus Reviews

“This slender novel is based on Alicia Kozameh’s experiences as a prisoner of the Argentine military regime during its ‘dirty war’ against left-wing guerrillas in the 1970s. . . . Steps Under Water is a fragmented surrealistic . . . narrative that strives to be both personal and universal. What happens to Sara could happen in any police state. Kozameh seldom refers to Argentine politics specifically. Her interest isn’t in cataloging atrocities so much as in describing their subtler effects on the mind and spirit.”—Los Angeles Times

“A compelling novel drawn from Kozameh’s experiences as a political prisoner in Argentina during the ‘Dirty War’ of the 80s.”—Feminist Bookstore News

“In this fragmented, episodic, sometimes uneven stew of letters, testimony, memories and dialogue, [Kozameh’s] ordeal becomes a powerful novel.”—New York Times Book Review

“An incisive, thoughtful commentary on how historical events possess no reality beyond the variety of ways in which they are remembered.”—Times Literary Supplement