How Julia Alvarez brought truth to the Mirabal sisters in her novel "In the Time of the Butterflies"

Writing "In the Time of the Butterflies," Julia Alvarez felt a responsibility to bring the story of the assassination of the Mirabel sisters to life through her characters, stating that "a novel is the truth according to character."

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Clip Season 38 Episode 5 Length 01:29 Premiere: 09/17/24

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Preview Length 01:57 Premiere Date 09/17/24

How Julia Alvarez conceived the story for her novel "Afterlife"

Clip Length 01:05 Premiere Date 09/17/24

Julia Alvarez on the female perspective in "In the Time of the Butterflies"

Clip Length 02:06 Premiere Date 09/17/24

How Julia Alvarez brought truth to the Mirabal sisters in her novel "In the Time of the Butterflies"

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Length 11:39 Premiere Date 08/19/20

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Season 38 Episodes

Show Episodes

Show Clips & Previews

Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around

S38 E6 Length 52:55 Premiere Date 12/16/24

Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined

S38 E5 Length 1:23:57 Premiere Date 09/17/24

Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames

S38 E4 Length 1:23:35 Premiere Date 08/27/24

The Incomparable Mr. Buckley

S38 E3 Length 1:40:39 Premiere Date 04/05/24

Moynihan

S38 E2 Length 1:43:31 Premiere Date 03/29/24

HOPPER: An American love story

S38 E1 Length 53:03 Premiere Date 01/02/24

Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined

Preview Length 01:57 Premiere Date 09/17/24

How Julia Alvarez conceived the story for her novel "Afterlife"

Clip Length 01:05 Premiere Date 09/17/24

Julia Alvarez on the female perspective in "In the Time of the Butterflies"

Clip Length 02:06 Premiere Date 09/17/24

How Julia Alvarez brought truth to the Mirabal sisters in her novel "In the Time of the Butterflies"

Clip Length 01:29 Premiere Date 09/17/24

The true story behind "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents"

Clip Length 02:05 Premiere Date 09/17/24

How Julia Alvarez was inspired by the working class

Clip Length 02:52 Premiere Date 09/17/24

Remembering Carol Channing

Clip Length 01:03 Premiere Date 01/15/19

Remembering Stan Lee

Clip Length 07:17 Premiere Date 11/13/18

Remembering Paula Wayne

Clip Length 03:09 Premiere Date 11/12/18

Artists Flight Series Promo

Preview Length 00:30 Premiere Date 08/31/18

Remembering Neil Simon

Clip Length 01:04 Premiere Date 08/28/18

Remembering Anthony Bourdain

Clip Length 00:24 Premiere Date 06/08/18

Against All Odds: Meet the Woman Behind American Masters

Clip Length 05:29 Premiere Date 03/09/18

See All Episodes

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American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez - S38 E5

Thursday October 8, 2026 2:00 am ET on KET
Thursday October 8, 2026 1:00 am CT on KET
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Tuesday October 6, 2026 8:00 pm CT on KET

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How Julia Alvarez brought truth to the Mirabal sisters in her novel "In the Time of the Butterflies"

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American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez

Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World

W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause

Bella! This Woman's Place Is in the House

Sun Ra: Do The Impossible

Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire

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Clips & Previews

Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined

How Julia Alvarez conceived the story for her novel "Afterlife"

Julia Alvarez on the female perspective in "In the Time of the Butterflies"

How Julia Alvarez brought truth to the Mirabal sisters in her novel "In the Time of the Butterflies"

The true story behind "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents"

How Julia Alvarez was inspired by the working class

Remembering Carol Channing

Remembering Stan Lee

Remembering Paula Wayne

Artists Flight Series Promo

Remembering Neil Simon

Remembering Anthony Bourdain

Against All Odds: Meet the Woman Behind American Masters

Specials

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez (ASL)

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez (EAD)

Mike Faist Embraces the Unknown

Brooke Shields' early career with Bob Hope and performing for the troops

The Many Passions of Matteo Lane

Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World [EAD]

Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World [ASL]

Taylor Rooks Talks NBA, Interview Techniques and Finding the Person Behind the Athlete

How Clive Davis became a titan of the music industry

Michael Sarnoski: What Robin Hood and Folklore Tell Us About Ourselves Today

Mike Wallace reflects on the 60 Minutes tobacco story controversy

Tyler James Williams on 30 Years of Acting and Protecting the Next Generation

Olivia Wilde on making “Tron: Legacy” with Jeff Bridges

Why Atsuko Okatsuka’s Comedy Connects Across Cultures

Stankface Standing Soldier: The Rise of Mato Wayuhi

W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause [EAD]

W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause [ASL]

Warren King: King of Cardboard

Greg Kinnear on Acting, AI, and Why Movies Still Matter

Aliah Irvine & Kehau Kapua’a: Kukulu

Chris Fleming Embraces the Chaos

Cindy Tran: From Here to Here

Lani B. Supreme: Legacy

Hannah Mayree: Songs of Reclamation

John Goodman on "The Big Lebowski" and Jeff Bridges

Alsarah: The Sonic Historian

Bella! This Woman's Place Is in the House [EAD]

Bella! This Woman's Place Is in the House [ASL]

Ani Liu: Eye Heart Womb

Sun Ra: Do The Impossible [ASL]

Sun Ra: Do The Impossible [EAD]

Night in Newark

Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire [ASL]

Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire [EAD]

Maryam Taghavi: Estranged Letters [Extended Audio Description]

How Leslie Jones Became a Comedian

Maryam Taghavi: Estranged Letters

Phoebe Robinson Shows Her Work

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore [EAD]

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore [ASL]

Sarah McLachlan: Making Music to Connect and Heal

Harvey Fierstein on gay representation on Broadway and its deep history

How Natasha Rothwell’s Life Brought Her to “The White Lotus”

When Ringo Starr met Mae West

Daniel Dae Kim Leads Spy Drama and Fights for Industry Change

Edel Rodriguez: Freedom is a Verb

Edel Rodriguez: Freedom is a Verb [ASL]

Edel Rodriguez: Freedom is a Verb [Extended Audio Description]

Mel Brooks' wild ride to his first Broadway show ever

John Kander and Fred Ebb on “Cabaret,” creativity and collaboration

House of Aama: Threads of Legacy

House of Aama: Threads of Legacy [Extended Audio Description]

House of Aama: Threads of Legacy [ASL]

Marcella [ASL]

Marcella [Extended Audio Description]

Norman Teague: Love Reigns Supreme