Antonio Orlando Rodríguez's novel is a fictional biography of the Cuban dwarf Espiridiona Cenda (1869–1945), better known as Chiquita (Little One). In the late 19th century, she arrived in New York to achieve fame as a dancer and singer. She indeed managed to become one of the highest-paid celebrities of her time.

This elegant novel, full of witty plot twists, also presents a detailed picture of an era rich in social upheaval and technological marvels; an era when so-called "freaks of nature" sparked lively interest.

Antonio Orlando Rodríguez (b. 1956) is one of the leading contemporary Latin American writers, critics, and journalists. Born in Cuba, he studied journalism at the University of Havana and has lived and worked in the United States since 1999. He gained recognition for his books for children and young adults.

In 2008, Rodríguez became the laureate of the Alfaguara Prize, the most prestigious literary award in the Spanish-speaking world. The jury, which awarded the prize to the novel "Chiquita" from among 500 texts, commented: "This work is full of the pulse of life. The author's narrative is distinguished by stylistic mastery and boundless imagination. The story of an extraordinary character unfolds before the reader like a flawlessly performed concert."