Fuentes present the most compelling short fiction from Mexico to Chile. Surreal, poetic, naturalistic, urbane, peasant-born: All styles intersect and play, often within a single piece. There is "The Handsomest Drown Man in the World," the García Márquez fable of a village overcome by the power of human beauty; "The Aleph," Borges' classic tale of a man who discovers, in a colleague's cellar, the Universe. Here is the haunting shades of Juan Rulfo, the astonishing anxiety puzzles of Julio Cortázar, the disquieted domesticity of Clarice Lispector. Provocative, powerful, immensely engaging, The Vintage Book of Latin American Stories showcases the ingenuity, diversity, and continuing excellence of a vast and vivid literary tradition.

Originally published in hardcover in slightly different form in Great Britain by Picador, an imprint of Macmillian Publishers Ltd., London, in 1998 as The Picador book of Latin American stories. Edited by Julio Ortega and Carlos Fuentes.

Contents:

The aleph / Juan Luis Borges -- The balcony / Felisberto Hernández -- The third bank of the river / João Guimarães Rosa -- The one who came to save me / Virgilio Piñera -- Hell most feared / Juan Carlos Onetti -- Luvina / Juan Rulfo -- Blow-up / Julio Cortázar -- Love / Clarice Lispector -- Ana María / José Donoso -- The handsomest drowned man in the world /; Gabriel García Márquez -- The melancholic pedestrian / Salvador Garmendia -- The wardrobe, the old man and death / Julio Ramón Ribeyro -- Subterranean river / Inés Arredondo -- The scissors / Antonio Benítez Rojo -- Orion's glow / Alejandro Rossi -- A new man / Luis Loayza -- Bukhara nocturne / Sergio Pitol -- Getting even / Luis Rafael Sánchez --; House of passion / Nélida Piñón -- Panther eyes / Luisa Valenzuela -- The queen / José Emilio Pacheco.; A brief reappearance by Florence, this autumn /; Alfredo Bryce Echenique --; The stroke of midnight /; José Balza --; Van Gogh's ear /; Moacyr Scliar --; The cyclist of San Cristóbal Hill /; Antonio Skármeta --; Notes from Buenos Aires /; Mario Levrero --; The feast /; Policarpo Varón --; The benefactor /; Rodolfo Hinostroza --; The centerfielder /; Sergio Ramírez --; Naturally /; María Luisa Puga --; Mirror images /; Hernán Lara Zavala --; [from] Big-eyed women /; Angeles Mastretta --; Taxi driver, minus Robert De Niro /; Fernando Ampuero --; Don't tell her you love her /; Senel Paz --; Voice of the water /; Alberto Ruy Sánchez --; [from] Naturalezas menores /; Antonio López Ortega --; Coyote /; Juan Villoro --; National sovereignty /; Rodrigo Fresán --; Clamour /; Pablo Soler Frost.