USA Africa Dialogue Series - Short Stories by Latin American Women: The Magic and the Real by Celia Correas Zapata (Author) , Isabel Allende (Introduction)

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Short Stories by Latin American Women: The Magic and the Real 

by Celia Correas Zapata (Author) , Isabel Allende (Introduction)

Celia Correas de Zapata, an internationally recognized expert in the field of Latin American fiction written by women, has collected stories by thirty-one authors from fourteen countries, translated into English by such renowned scholars and writers as Gregory Rabassa and Margaret Sayers Peden. Contributors include Dora Alonso, Rosario Ferré, Elena Poniatowska, Ana Lydia Vega, and Luisa Valenzuela. The resulting book is a literary tour de force, stories written by women in this hemisphere that speak to cultures throughout the world. In her Foreword, Isabel Allende states, "This anthology is so valuable; it lays open the emotions of writers who, in turn, speak for others still shrouded in silence."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Until very recently," novelist Allende writes in the foreword to this comprehensive collection, "Latin American literature was-with very few exceptions-a man's game." No more. Combining prominent names such as Luisa Valenzuela, Elena Poniatowska and Allende with others little known outside their home countries, this anthology shows off the wealth of fiction being written today by Latin American women. Editor Correas de Zapata, a San Jose State University professor of Hispanic literature, has chosen stories from around the continent and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. Brazilian author Clarice Lispector's "Looking for Some Dignity" is a bracing tale of an elderly women's creeping senility and waning sense of self. A number of stories, such as "Sophie and the Angel," by Cuba's Dora Alonso, about an old widow visited by an angel playing an electric guitar, show that Latin American men don't hold the patent on magic realism. Others, such as "Cloud Cover Caribbean," by Ana Lydia Vega of Puerto Rico, are firmly in the realist tradition; in this case, a refugee boat heading toward Miami founders because of the mutual mistrust of the passengers. If there's a flaw, it's that the sheer number of authors-31 in all-coupled with the brevity of each selection make it difficult for individual voices to stand out. The editor clearly favors breadth over depth, showcasing as many writers as possible in this appealing smorgasbord. 
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This thoughtful collection is another welcome addition to the small but growing body of literature by contemporary Latin American women writers in translation. (See, for instance, Landscapes of a New Land , LJ 12/89.) The anthology includes 32 short stories by 31 women from 14 countries. The writers are all well known in their own countries, but few--except Isabel Allende, who has also written the foreword--will be known to most readers in this country. The other writers, including Clarice Lispector, Carmen Naranjo, Luisa Valenzuela, Rima de Vallbona, and others, certainly deserve our recognition. Correas de Zapata's scholarly introduction sets the tone for the collection, which should be enjoyed by nonscholars as well.
- Mary Margaret Benson, Linfield Coll . Lib., McMinnville, Ore.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Thirty-one authors representing 14 Latin American nations are showcased in this collection. Traditionally, Latin American culture has virtually ignored the contributions of the few women able to give voice to their imaginations. Fortunately, that mindset has begun to evolve, and record numbers of Latin American females have been entering the recognized literary ranks. The enormous popularity of magic realism has also provided an enthusiatic international audience for previously unrecognized regional writers. Although diverse in plots and themes, these stories are unified by the fact that they were all authored by female residents of male-dominated societies and are all grounded in various combinations of the realistic, the surrealistic, and the supernatural. First published and translated in 1990, the Modern Library stamp of approval guarantees renewed interest in this stellar anthology. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"[A] needed general text for courses in contemporary Latin American and women's literature." —The New York Times Book Review

From the Inside Flap

Celia Correas de Zapata, an internationally recognized expert in the field of Latin American fiction written by women, has collected stories by thirty-one authors from fourteen countries, translated into English by such renowned scholars and writers as Gregory Rabassa and Margaret Sayers Peden. Contributors include Dora Alonso, Rosario Ferré, Elena Poniatowska, Ana Lydia Vega, and Luisa Valenzuela. The resulting book is a literary tour de force, stories written by women in this hemisphere that speak to cultures throughout the world. In her Foreword, Isabel Allende states,? This anthology is so valuable; it lays open the emotions of writers who, in turn, speak for others still shrouded in silence.?

From the Back Cover

"[A] needed general text for courses in contemporary Latin American and women's literature." —The New York Times Book Review

About the Author

Celia Correas de Zapata is the author of Isabel Allende: Vida y Espíritu, as well as many articles and essays.

Isabel Allende, one of Latin America's foremost writers, is the author of numerous books, including The House of the Spirits, Of Love and Shadows, Eva Luna, and Paula.

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