A richly varied anthology of Spanish short stories, curated by celebrated translator Margaret Jull Costa
This exciting new collection celebrates the Spanish short story, from its modern origins in the nineteenth century to the remarkable work being written today. Featuring over fifty stories selected by revered translator Margaret Jull Costa, it blends hidden gems and old favourites, surprising new voices and giants of Spain's literary culture, from Emilia Pardo Bazan and Leopoldo Alas, through Merc
Rodoreda and Manuel Rivas, to Javier Marias.
Brimming with romance, horror, history, farce, strangeness and beauty, and showcasing alluring hairdressers, war defectors, vampiric mothers, and talismanic mandrake roots, the daring and entertaining assortment of tales in The Penguin Book of Spanish Short Stories will be a treasure trove for readers.
Contents Introduction by Margaret Jull Costa Benito Pérez Galdós The Novel on the Tram Emilia Pardo Bazán The Talisman Leopoldo Alas, ‘Clarín’ Duet for Two Coughs Miguel de Unamuno The Likeness Ramón del Valle- Inclán The Poor Wee Child Pío Baroja The Unknown Azorín The Reverse Side of the Tapestry Eduardo Blanco Amor The Biobardos Josep Pla Counterpoint Rosa Chacel The Genie of the Night and the Genie of the Day Rafael Dieste Light and Silence Ramón J. Sender The Boy Max Aub Ingratitude Mercè Rodoreda Like Silk Álvaro Cunqueiro Jacinto’s Umbrella Pere Calders Feat of Arms Alonso Zamora Vicente On a Visit Julián Ayesta At the Beach Miguel Delibes On Such a Night Carmen Laforet The Return Ignacio Aldecoa Come Twelve o’Clock Ana María Matute Conscience Medardo Fraile Berta’s Presence Carmen Martín Gaite Behind the Eyes Josefina Rodríguez Aldecoa Madrid, Autumn, Saturday Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio The Recidivist Juan Benet Reichenau Juan Marsé The Street of the Sleeping Dragon Esther Tusquets Summer Orchestra Álvaro Pombo Luzmila José María Merino The Deserter Marina Mayoral Then He Began to Forget Cristina Fernández Cubas A Fresh Start Juan José Millás She’s Everywhere Vicente Molina Foix The Real Hairdresser Soledad Puértolas Traffic Jam Carme Riera The Return Home Enrique Vila-Matas Sea Swell Javier Marías A Sense of Camaraderie Bernardo Atxaga Teresa, poverina mia Quim Monzó The Fullness of Summer Paloma Díaz-Mas In Search of a Photograph Julio Llamazares Balancing the World on His Chin Manuel Rivas The Butterfly’s Tongue Carlos Castán The Usher Teresa Solana The Second Mrs Appleton Javier Cercas Against Optimism Eloy Tizón About the Wedding Karmele Jaio The Scream Jesús Carrasco 10.10.10 Javier Montes Hotel Life Harkaitz Cano The Keys to the Apartment Eider Rodríguez And Shortly After That, Now Elvira Navarro Love Cristina García Morales The Generation Gap Aixa de la Cruz True Milk Copyright information My Fellow Translators Translator’s Acknowledgements
Margaret Jull Costa has translated the works of many Spanish and Portuguese writers, among them novelists- Javier Marias, Jose Saramago and E a de Queiroz, and poets- Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, Mario de Sa-Carneiro and Ana Luisa Amaral. Her work has brought her numerous prizes, most recently, the 2018 Premio Valle-Inclan for On the Edge by Rafael Chirbes. In 2014, she was awarded an OBE for services to literature.
Reviews for The Penguin Book of Spanish Short Stories
An inspiring, interesting, thorough, beautifully-translated collection. The range - stylistic and thematic - of the volume is fascinating ... There isn't really a dud story in the book ... In presenting these and other wonderful things, Jull Costa has carried out a great service to English readers * Literary Review *
