These eleven tales are by four outstanding nineteenth-century authors whose work brought new life to Spanish literature. Published between 1870 and 1900, they include "El Hechicero" (The Sorcerer), by Juan Valera, a highly polished allegorical retelling of an Andalusian legend. Pedro Antonio de Alarcón's tale of bandits, "La buenaventura," appears with his "La Comendadora," inspired by an incident in a Granada convent. Three tales by Leopoldo Alas ("Clarín")--"Adios, Cordera," "Cambio de luz," and "Benedictino"--exemplify the author's remarkably protean style. Emilia Pardo Bazán's stories ("Afra," "La Santa de Karnar," "La cana," "Dios castiga," and "La Mayorazga de Bouzas") take place in her native Galicia. All exhibit the violence that fascinated Pardo Bazán, along with the independent, courageous female characters who populate her work. This dual-language edition features an informative introduction and ample footnotes, making it not only a pleasure to read but also a valuable learning and teaching aid for students and teachers of Spanish literature.
