Pepita Jiménez depicts the gradual realization by a young seminarian of the empty vanity of his vocation, while he falls in love on the eve of his ordination. The novel gives a view of rural life in the Andalusian region of Spain. The story touches on themes of physical versus spiritual love and finding one's true path in life.

Juan Valera (1824-1905) was a Spanish realist author, diplomat, and politician. Throughout his diplomatic and political activity he produced works which rank among the highest that his country's literature contains. His best known work is Pepita Jiménez. All of his novels were written around the time when he abandoned his political activities.