Books › Spanish Short Stories 1 — Cuentos hispánicos 1
Spanish Short Stories 1 — Cuentos hispánicos 1
First published 1966 · 208 pages
A thoughtful, dual-language exploration of contemporary Spanish-American literary voices.
What it feels like
Reading this collection feels like stepping into a mid-century language laboratory where the textbooks are replaced by the vibrant, diverse voices of contemporary Spanish-American literature. The pace is inherently steady, inviting the reader to linger over the parallel texts, comparing the literal English translations with the original Spanish prose. It carries an intellectual, cross-cultural mood, grounded in its educational purpose but elevated by the sheer literary weight of authors like Borges and Benedetti, and the evocative inclusion of settings like the imaginary Macondo. The prose styles vary from story to story, offering a representative sampler of modern fiction from South and Central America. It is a deeply rewarding experience for language students and bilingual literary enthusiasts alike, offering a bridge between linguistic study and pure storytelling appreciation.
- Mood
- academic
- cross-cultural
- intellectual
- Tone
- educational
- literary
- thoughtful
- representative
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- language acquisition · literary translation · Spanish-American identity · cultural exchange
- The writing
- A blend of distinct, contemporary Spanish-American literary styles presented alongside literal, accessible English translations.
- The arc
- A steady progression from linguistic curiosity to a deep appreciation of diverse literary voices.
- Who it's for
- Language students and literary enthusiasts seeking to experience modern Spanish-American fiction in both English and its original Spanish.
About the book
This is a companion volume to the collections of Soviet, German, Italian, and French short stories which have already appeared in Penguin Parallel Texts. The stories selected are representative, of contemporary writing in Spanish from all parts, and seven of the eight included are the work of Spanish-American authors. The literal English translations, together with the notes and biographies of the writers, are intended to help English-speaking students of Spanish; but the book can also be enjoyed by readers with a knowledge of either language and an interest in modern literature. El presente volumen forma parte de la serie de historias cortas en las lenguas rusa, alemana, italiana y francesa que han aparecido previamente en la colecciónn Pinguino de Textos Paralelos. Los cuentos elegidos son representatives del estilo literario del español contemporaneo de diversas naciones. Siete de los ocho trabajos incluidos son por autores hispanoamericanos. La traduccion es literal y junto con las notas y biografía de los escritores tiene por objeto ayudar a los estudiantes ingleses de la lengua española. No obstante, este libro será también del agrado de los lectores de una y otra lengua interesados en literature moderna.
Description from Open Library.
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