 Urania Cabral and her father Agustín Cabral appear in both the modern day and historical portions of the novel . In the year 1996 , Urania returns to the Dominican Republic for the first time since her departure at the age of 14 . She is a successful New York lawyer who has spent most of the past 35 years trying to overcome the traumas of her childhood , a goal she pursues through an academic fascination with Trujillo and Dominican history . Urania is deeply troubled by the events of her past , and is compelled to confront her father Agustín about his role in those events . Urania visits her father , finding him weakened by age and a severe stroke , so much so that he is barely able to respond physically to her presence , let alone speak . Agustín listens helplessly as Urania recounts his past as " Egghead Cabral " , a high @-@ ranking member of Trujillo 's inner circle , and his drastic fall from grace . Urania details Agustín 's role in the events that led to her rape by the Dominican leader , and to her subsequent lifetime of celibacy and emotional trauma . Agustín 's character in the modern day portion of the novel serves primarily as a sounding board for Urania 's recollections of the Trujillo era and the events that surrounded both Agustín Cabral 's disgrace and Urania 's escape from the country . His responses are minimal and non @-@ vocal , despite the ardency of Urania 's accusations and the enormity of his own actions during Trujillo 's reign . 
 Urania Cabral and her father Agustín Cabral appear in both the modern day and historical portions of the novel . In the year 1996 , Urania <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>returns</mark></a> to the Dominican Republic for the first time since her departure at the age of 14 . She <a href='drop_aux' title='2'><mark>is</mark></a>a successful New York lawyer <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>has</mark></a> spent most of the past 35 years trying to overcome the traumas of her childhood , a goal she <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>pursues</mark></a> through an academic fascination with Trujillo and Dominican history . Urania is deeply troubled by the events of her past , and is compelled to confront her father Agustín about his role in those events . Urania <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>visits</mark></a> her father , finding him weakened by age and a severe stroke , so much so that he <a href='drop_aux' title='7'><mark>is</mark></a>barely able to respond physically to her presence , let alone speak . Agustín <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>listens</mark></a> helplessly as Urania <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>recounts</mark></a> his past as " Egghead Cabral " , a high @-@ ranking member of Trujillo <a href='null_genetive' title='10'><mark>'s</mark></a>inner circle , and his drastic fall from grace . Urania <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>details</mark></a> Agustín <a href='null_genetive' title='12'><mark>'s</mark></a>role in the events <a href='null_relcl' title='13'><mark>that</mark></a>led to her rape by the Dominican leader , and to her subsequent lifetime of celibacy and emotional trauma . Agustín <a href='null_genetive' title='14'><mark>'s</mark></a>character in the modern day portion of the novel <a href='uninflect' title='15'><mark>serves</mark></a> primarily as a sounding board for Urania <a href='null_genetive' title='16'><mark>'s</mark></a>recollections of the Trujillo era and the events <a href='null_relcl' title='17'><mark>that</mark></a>surrounded both Agustín Cabral <a href='null_genetive' title='18'><mark>'s</mark></a>disgrace and Urania <a href='null_genetive' title='19'><mark>'s</mark></a>escape from the country . His responses <a href='drop_aux' title='20'><mark>are</mark></a>minimal and non @-@ vocal , despite the ardency of Urania <a href='null_genetive' title='21'><mark>'s</mark></a>accusations and the enormity of his own actions during Trujillo <a href='null_genetive' title='22'><mark>'s</mark></a>reign . 
Urania Cabral and her father Agustín Cabral appear in both the modern day and historical portions of da novel . In the year 1996 , Urania return to tdaDominican Republic fir the first time since her departure at the age of 14 . She a successful New York lawyer done spent most of the past 35 years tryna overcome thdaraumas of her childhood , a goal she pursue thru an academic fascination with Trujillo and Dominican history . Urania is deeply troubled by thedaents of her past , and is compelled to confront her father Agustín bout his role in those events . Urania visit her father , finding him weakened by age and a severe stroke , so much soo dat he barely able to respond physically to her presence , let alone speak . Agustín listen helplessly as Urania recount his past as " Egghead Cabral " , a high @-@ ranking member of Trujillo  inner circle , and his drastic fall from grace . Urania detail Agustín  role in the dants led to her rape by the Dominican leader , and to her subsequent lifetime of celibacy and emotional trauma . Agustín  character in the modern day portion of the novel serve primarily as a soundin board for Urania  recollections of the Trujillo era and the events surrounded both Agustín Cabral  disgrace and Urania  escape from the country . His responses minimal and non @-@ vocal , despite the adancy of Urania  accusations and the enormity of his own actions durin Trujillo  reign .