María de Zayas was a Spanish writer born in 1590 in Madrid. She is best known for her contributions to the early modern Spanish literature, particularly her short stories and novels that often focused on women's experiences and social issues. Her most famous works include La inocencia castigada and El jardín de la verdad. Zayas was one of the first female authors to gain recognition in a male-dominated literary world. Her writings challenged societal norms and highlighted the struggles faced by women in 17th-century Spain, making her an important figure in the history of Spanish literature.