Great Spanish Stories: 10 Parallel Texts

by Various, Margaret Jull Costa (Editor), Thomas Bunstead (Translation)

A riveting selection of short stories in Spanish alongside their English translations

This new dual-language edition of ten stories selected from The Penguin Book of Spanish Short Stories celebrates some of the very best twentieth-century literature from Spain. Each story appears in Spanish alongside an expert English translation, providing unique cultural insight and literary inspiration for language learners. Ranging from a poignant tale of betrayal to a darkly humorous exchange between wedding guests, this captivating collection includes works from authors such as Leopoldo Alas (Clarín), Cristina Fernández Cubas, Medardo Fraile, Carmen Martín Gaite, Karmele Jaio, Carmen Laforet, Javier Marías, Carme Riera, Manuel Rivas, and Esther Tusquets.

Genres: Spanish Literature, Short Stories, Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

Published January 11, 2024

About the author

Various is the correct author for any book with multiple unknown authors, and is acceptable for books with multiple known authors, especially if not all are known or the list is very long (over 50).

If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.

Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.

Reviews

[Elien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muy bien para mejorar mi español receptivo (y activo), y estudiar casos del indicativo-subjuntivo pero las historias no me gustan mucho.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Honestly Spain should be rioting that penguin is representing these mediocre/bad stories as the greatest in the history of the nation

[Walter Schutjens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories that can be enjoyed for their own sake. In both English and Spanish. Real joy to read - best for already intermediate Spanish speakers - which I wasnt, but a great collection to jump in the deep end.

[Jupiter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t normally read a short stories collection with no specific theme, but this one enlightened me that I should more often. Each story carries a normal beginning and end, but they stood out somehow. Unexpectedly a good read.

[Pj Escobio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love short stories, always have. This is a lovely collection with a very Spanish vibe. I particularly loved the coming of age tale, Summer Orchestra by Esther Tusquests and The Return Home by Carme Riera, a haunting tale of regret.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A collection of really fine flowers” is correct. I really liked most of these 10, in both Spanish and English! Memories of scenes of Spain, too, in all its diverse beauty.

[Angelina · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Some Spanish Stories this anthology should be called. Sadly one 5-star story by Javier Marias cannot save this collection of "meh...", pretentious and cringy little musings.

[Razvan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Natassia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some are truly 5 stars and some are 1 star-reads. Still love the format.