Mexico has long been the top travel destination for Americans. But until now, there has not been such a panoramic vision of Mexico offered by some of Mexico's finest contemporary writers of fiction and literary prose. Here are writings-many translated for the first time-that bring you to the people of the beaches, the deserts, jungles, snow-capped mountains, and megacities. The voices are rich and diverse, the stories enthralling and strange. These writings shatter stereotypes as they provide a rollicking journey from the Pacific to the Gulf, from Yucatan to the U.S.-Mexico border, from humble ranchos to a fabulous mountaintop castle.

Contents:                

Big Caca's revenge — Daniel Reveles ; Malintzin of the maquilas — Carlos Fuentes ; The silent words — Inés Arredondo ; According to Evaristo — Jesús Gardea ; The green bottle — Ricardo Elizondo Elizondo ; Lady of the Seas — Agustín Cadena ; Rancho Santa Inés: fast! — C.M. Mayo ; Identity hour or, What photos would you take of the endless city? — Carlos Monsiváis ; One-way street — Juan Villoro ; Oh, Polanco! — Guadalupe Loaeza ; The Emperor in Miravalle — Fernando del Paso ; Day and night — Mónica Lavín ; Huaquechula — Pedro Ángel Palou ; Aunt Elena — Ángeles Mastretta ; Banquets — Raúl Mejía ; And one Wednesday — Martha Cerda ; It is nothing of mine — Araceli Ardón ; Fata Morgana — Bruno Estañol ; Twins — Ilan Stavans ; Tarantula — Raymundo Hernández-Gil ; She has reddish hair and her name is Sabina — Julieta Campos ; Vigil in Tehuantepec — Alberto Ruy Sánchez ; Tenebrae service — Rosario Castellanos ; Swift as desire — Laura Esquivel.