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The Dialogue of Two Snails
My heart
brims with billows
and minnows
of shadows and silver
Beautiful, brutal, strange and lovely: this is Lorca reborn, in a selection of previously unpublished pieces and masterful new translations.
Penguin Modern: fifty new books celebrating the pioneering spirit of the iconic Penguin Modern Classics series, with each one offering a concentrated hit of its contemporary, international flavour. Here are authors ranging from Kathy Acker to James Baldwin, Truman Capote to Stanislaw Lem and George Orwell to Shirley Jackson; essays radical and inspiring; poems moving and disturbing; stories surreal and fabulous; taking us from the deep South to modern Japan, New York's underground scene to the farthest reaches of outer space.
brims with billows
and minnows
of shadows and silver
Beautiful, brutal, strange and lovely: this is Lorca reborn, in a selection of previously unpublished pieces and masterful new translations.
Penguin Modern: fifty new books celebrating the pioneering spirit of the iconic Penguin Modern Classics series, with each one offering a concentrated hit of its contemporary, international flavour. Here are authors ranging from Kathy Acker to James Baldwin, Truman Capote to Stanislaw Lem and George Orwell to Shirley Jackson; essays radical and inspiring; poems moving and disturbing; stories surreal and fabulous; taking us from the deep South to modern Japan, New York's underground scene to the farthest reaches of outer space.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
29 people are currently reading
814 people want to read
About the author
Federico García Lorca
1,547 books3,054 followersBorn in Fuente Vaqueros, Granada, Spain, June 5 1898; died near Granada, August 19 1936, García Lorca is one of Spain's most deeply appreciated and highly revered poets and dramatists. His murder by the Nationalists at the start of the Spanish civil war brought sudden international fame, accompanied by an excess of political rhetoric which led a later generation to question his merits; after the inevitable slump, his reputation has recovered (largely with a shift in interest to the less obvious works). He must now be bracketed with Machado as one of the two greatest poets Spain has produced in the 20th century, and he is certainly Spain's greatest dramatist since the Golden Age.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
July 20, 2024
I'd been thinking on and off to read some of Frederico García Lorca's poetry, and it was the title of this collection that caught my eye.
I was mostly disappointed by this collection - not because he isn't a great writer (I imagine that is still true), but I think the collection wasn't that well put together and that the translation was really unsatisfying.
I enjoyed some sense/feeling I got of his poetry from this collection, but much of the time the poems felt restricted and dampened by the translation. every now and then a phrase worked and it was in these rare moments I felt I was actually reading Frederico García Lorca. there were some very odd word choices too in the English translation.
I'm not sure how well the poems went together in the collection. I noticed that there was generally a character or word in a poem that seemed present from the preceding one, and that it flowed in that way. but with respect to the poems chosen, and times/periods in his life and themes in his work that this collection represented, I'm not sure - it being my first reading of any of his work I don't have a reference point.
at the back of the book there was a reference to where each poem came from wrt previous volumes published etc, but it was abit inconsistent, sometimes missing that information (or not stating previously unpublished which might have been the case), and seemingly randomly explaining a word.
another disappointment was that the book itself was very small, as was the font size used, and both the paper and print quality seemed poor - like the physical qualities of the book reflected the poor translation and perhaps random selection.
I liked the inclusion of some of Frederico García Lorca's sketches... tho they seemed a little random too.
I really doubt it's a collection Frederico García Lorca would have designed himself, and I think one of the most disappointing things is that it would not, on its own, inspire me to seek out any more of his work.
🐌🌟 2 stars 🌟🐌, one for each snail 😉
I was mostly disappointed by this collection - not because he isn't a great writer (I imagine that is still true), but I think the collection wasn't that well put together and that the translation was really unsatisfying.
I enjoyed some sense/feeling I got of his poetry from this collection, but much of the time the poems felt restricted and dampened by the translation. every now and then a phrase worked and it was in these rare moments I felt I was actually reading Frederico García Lorca. there were some very odd word choices too in the English translation.
I'm not sure how well the poems went together in the collection. I noticed that there was generally a character or word in a poem that seemed present from the preceding one, and that it flowed in that way. but with respect to the poems chosen, and times/periods in his life and themes in his work that this collection represented, I'm not sure - it being my first reading of any of his work I don't have a reference point.
at the back of the book there was a reference to where each poem came from wrt previous volumes published etc, but it was abit inconsistent, sometimes missing that information (or not stating previously unpublished which might have been the case), and seemingly randomly explaining a word.
another disappointment was that the book itself was very small, as was the font size used, and both the paper and print quality seemed poor - like the physical qualities of the book reflected the poor translation and perhaps random selection.
I liked the inclusion of some of Frederico García Lorca's sketches... tho they seemed a little random too.
I really doubt it's a collection Frederico García Lorca would have designed himself, and I think one of the most disappointing things is that it would not, on its own, inspire me to seek out any more of his work.
🐌🌟 2 stars 🌟🐌, one for each snail 😉
May 1, 2019
A nice little introduction to Garcia Lorca …
“… The two maundering frogs
sit there like sphinxes.
One of them asks:
“Do you believe in eternal life?”
“Not I”, the blind, maimed frog
replies with great sadness.
“Then why did we tell
the snail to believe?”
“Because … I don´t know why”,
says the blind frog.
“I swell with emotion
on hearing the conviction
with which my children call out
to God from the ditch …”
“… The two maundering frogs
sit there like sphinxes.
One of them asks:
“Do you believe in eternal life?”
“Not I”, the blind, maimed frog
replies with great sadness.
“Then why did we tell
the snail to believe?”
“Because … I don´t know why”,
says the blind frog.
“I swell with emotion
on hearing the conviction
with which my children call out
to God from the ditch …”
September 25, 2018
I was looking forward to trying a selection of Federico Garcia Lorca's poetry, having never read any of his work before. The 42nd Penguin Modern, The Dialogue of Two Snails, is described as 'a dazzling selection of the beautiful, brutal and darkly brilliant work of Spain's greatest twentieth-century poet.'
The collection, which has been translated by Tyler Fisher, contains work which appears in English for the first time, and presents a 'representative sampling of [his] poetry, dialogues, and short prose.' The poems collected here also appear with the dates in which they were written, which I think is a useful touch.
Other reviewers have commented that the placing of poems here feels disjointed, and that the quality of the translation renders the poems stilted. I have no reference points with which to compare Garcia Lorca's work, and so I did not let this affect my reading of The Dialogue of Two Snails.
As I find with many collections, there were poems here which I didn't much like, and others which I thought were great. Some of Garcia Lorca's ideas are a little bizarre and offbeat, but I am definitely intrigued enough to read more of his work, and to see how the translations compare. Some of what he captures here is lovely, and so vivid, and I enjoyed the diversity of the collection. As ever, I will finish this poetry review by collecting together a few fragments which I particularly enjoyed.
From 'The Encounters of an Adventurous Snail':
There is a childlike sweetness
in the still morning.
The trees stretch
their arms to the earth.
From 'Knell':
The wind and dust
Make silver prows.
'Seashell':
They've brought me a seashell.
It's depths sing an atlas
of seascapes downriver.
My hear
brims with billows
and minnows
of shadows and silver.
They've brought me a seashell.
The collection, which has been translated by Tyler Fisher, contains work which appears in English for the first time, and presents a 'representative sampling of [his] poetry, dialogues, and short prose.' The poems collected here also appear with the dates in which they were written, which I think is a useful touch.
Other reviewers have commented that the placing of poems here feels disjointed, and that the quality of the translation renders the poems stilted. I have no reference points with which to compare Garcia Lorca's work, and so I did not let this affect my reading of The Dialogue of Two Snails.
As I find with many collections, there were poems here which I didn't much like, and others which I thought were great. Some of Garcia Lorca's ideas are a little bizarre and offbeat, but I am definitely intrigued enough to read more of his work, and to see how the translations compare. Some of what he captures here is lovely, and so vivid, and I enjoyed the diversity of the collection. As ever, I will finish this poetry review by collecting together a few fragments which I particularly enjoyed.
From 'The Encounters of an Adventurous Snail':
There is a childlike sweetness
in the still morning.
The trees stretch
their arms to the earth.
From 'Knell':
The wind and dust
Make silver prows.
'Seashell':
They've brought me a seashell.
It's depths sing an atlas
of seascapes downriver.
My hear
brims with billows
and minnows
of shadows and silver.
They've brought me a seashell.
July 8, 2023
good read. tender
February 23, 2025
Penguin Modern 42/50 (reading in order)
Another book which should be absolutely unworthy of consideration for this collection. This is meant to be the top 50 writers of the 20th century, so why would the first ever translations of these poems be for consideration. They might be amazing in Spanish, but they'd already have been translated by now if they were revolutionary?
Very experimental but impersonal poetry here. Nothing to grasp, abstract and detached. Not terrible though, clearly skilled and phonetically aesthetic. The translation is lyrical in a nice way, but how much this is to the translator, I do not know.
Best poem: Gypsy Zorongo
Another book which should be absolutely unworthy of consideration for this collection. This is meant to be the top 50 writers of the 20th century, so why would the first ever translations of these poems be for consideration. They might be amazing in Spanish, but they'd already have been translated by now if they were revolutionary?
Very experimental but impersonal poetry here. Nothing to grasp, abstract and detached. Not terrible though, clearly skilled and phonetically aesthetic. The translation is lyrical in a nice way, but how much this is to the translator, I do not know.
Best poem: Gypsy Zorongo
May 4, 2019
Habiendo leído por gusto gran parte de la bibliografía de Federico García Lorca, los poemas y canciones que aquí se recogen son todo un cuadro.
Pienso que lo más representativo de Lorca no se ve reflejado en lo que encontramos aquí recopilado, y que casi hubiera sido preferible escoger una pequeña obra de teatro a hacer esta mezcolanza de poemas y canciones.
Pienso que lo más representativo de Lorca no se ve reflejado en lo que encontramos aquí recopilado, y que casi hubiera sido preferible escoger una pequeña obra de teatro a hacer esta mezcolanza de poemas y canciones.
May 4, 2021
3.5 stars. While some of the poetry is truly beautiful, the collection as a whole feels disjointed at times which detracts from the better poems. The surrealist drawings are an unexpected bonus.
August 7, 2024
“”Each song””
“Each song
is a tide pool
of love.
Each day-star
is a tide pool
of time.
A knot
of time.
And each sigh
is a tide pool
of a cry.”
Mooi
“Each song
is a tide pool
of love.
Each day-star
is a tide pool
of time.
A knot
of time.
And each sigh
is a tide pool
of a cry.”
Mooi
December 15, 2018
A fun and irreverent collection of poems from the second Spanish Republic. Its a shame that most were published posthumously as Lorca had the bad luck to be in nationalist territory in 1936 at the start of the Spanish Civil War, so he was an early casualty of the Fascist terror.
My favourite is the one about the pompous Civil Guard officer.
My favourite is the one about the pompous Civil Guard officer.
July 10, 2018
Now, I likes me some Lorca; but, bloody hell, this Penguin Modern sampler is a ramshackle affair, its selection seemingly thrown together at random. And I’m not at all keen on Tyler Fisher’s stilted translations.
May 31, 2018
Not the same in English but it’s always lovely to revisit Lorca 🌿
July 10, 2023
Knock knock.
Who's there?
The Autumn once again.
What does the Autumn want?
The summer freshness of your head.
Who's there?
The Autumn once again.
What does the Autumn want?
The summer freshness of your head.
July 25, 2024
Lorca is, without a doubt, a great poet. One of the greatest.
This collection, unfortunately, doesn't do him justice. I don't know of it's a translation problem (poetry doesn't do well with translation I think), or a selection problem (the poems were completely disconnected), or both, but it didn't work.
This collection, unfortunately, doesn't do him justice. I don't know of it's a translation problem (poetry doesn't do well with translation I think), or a selection problem (the poems were completely disconnected), or both, but it didn't work.
November 26, 2024
super quick and easy read! nice collection of poems
February 9, 2025
Sadly the translation is not doing it for me, I believe Garcia Lorca's work must be better in Spanish, because through ' encounters of an adventurous snail' and 'cradle song' you can clearly see the potential it has, that this translation sadly does not bring.
August 18, 2024
"Sometimes you read a literal prose translation of a celebrated poem in a language you don’t have. It’s like viewing a landscape by an old master through frosted glass: you can make out enough of the outline to see that it’s gorgeous, but all the details are obfuscated."
Found the above quote in a translator's note on Lorca's "The Unfaithful Housewife" on Poetry Foundation, could not have said it better if I tried.
Found the above quote in a translator's note on Lorca's "The Unfaithful Housewife" on Poetry Foundation, could not have said it better if I tried.
Read
September 3, 2021This was an interesting poetry collection featuring a wide range of poetic styles and formats. My favourite was 'The Encounters of an Adventurous Snail', I thought the imagery was excellent and that it would actually be really cool if made into a Pixar short. All of the other poems were great too, really glad I gave this a chance and will look into more work by Lorca in the future.
August 6, 2018
I enjoyed the poetry in this mini collection and will definitely be checking out more Lorca. And apparently he was assassinated by Spanish Nationalists, which just makes me even more curious. Hmmmm.
September 19, 2024
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful ✨
June 9, 2024
These little books by Penguin are great. They weigh very little and fit in the inside pocket of my jacket so I can take them almost anywhere. The Lorca volume is a delight. His poems have a quality of great mystery. The short prose and theatrical pieces here are extremely cryptic. But the beauty always shines through. These poems are poignant enough translated into English but I am wondering what they must be like in Spanish. I think I know enough Spanish to be able to read them in the original language and I now feel strongly inclined to try.
June 28, 2019
These £1 books are great at giving an insight into authors you'd normally never consider, and Federico Garcia Lorca is, to me, an excellent example of this. Brilliantly colourful language and descriptive works.
May 7, 2018
one to take your time over and read aloud if possible!
November 28, 2021
If Lewis Carroll wrote poetry on meth I think this is what he'd write.
July 2, 2023
the poems i enjoyed most: quasi-elegy, the moon & death, telegraph and the encounters of an adventurous snail
January 5, 2024
I really enjoyed this collection - a great mix of both shorter poems and longer prose. My particular favourites were the more absurdist writings, notably “The Dialogue of Two Snails” which the collection opens with and which I found very funny, and similarly “Scene of the Lieutenant Colonel of the Civil Guard” which was also funny and, along with the other Gypsy Ballads that Garcia Lorca is well-known for, was enjoyably satirical towards the attitudes that the Roma faced (and still face) in Europe.
December 4, 2020
I bought this book for three reasons;
1. The title
2. the colour of the cover
3. It was 5$
How serendipitous of a read! This was a little jewel! I loved hearing about the ant who saw the stars and of Tamar's heartbreaking stories.
While I was reading this at work my boss was telling me about the history of the poet and I am just so intrigued and look forward to read more!
I hope to someday learn enough spanish to read the original poems, though it has been translated beautifully.
1. The title
2. the colour of the cover
3. It was 5$
How serendipitous of a read! This was a little jewel! I loved hearing about the ant who saw the stars and of Tamar's heartbreaking stories.
While I was reading this at work my boss was telling me about the history of the poet and I am just so intrigued and look forward to read more!
I hope to someday learn enough spanish to read the original poems, though it has been translated beautifully.
June 18, 2021
Amazing work, but I would have enjoyed and understood it more had it been assembled better. The GR blurb reads that this is a collection of Lorca's unpublished works, but some uniformity of theme or format would have made it a better read. There are passages (good ones, no doubt) that exist without any context, followed by an equally out-the-scene piece. While I enjoyed these pieces in isolation, it'd have helped if they'd flowed in a unifying theme.
November 7, 2021
I was drawn to this because of the title. If you've never read any Lorca, I'm not sure this is the best introduction since it is very disjointed (IMO), but I thought it might be a good little snippet of Lorca's works.
I enjoyed Lorca's word choices - I like combinations of words that create striking images. This little collection certainly gives plenty of examples like:
- great onion of ideas
- criss-cross of sound
- and my soul (far too tender) answered with its eyelids
- Brimstone and roses on my lips
- Sign of the scissory cross
- Its depths sing and atlas
If you are after something you can grab and read on a bus ride that does not take up much space, this is a good little book. If you are after a good introduction to Lorca's works, then I'd hunt for something a bit more ordered and substantial.
I enjoyed Lorca's word choices - I like combinations of words that create striking images. This little collection certainly gives plenty of examples like:
- great onion of ideas
- criss-cross of sound
- and my soul (far too tender) answered with its eyelids
- Brimstone and roses on my lips
- Sign of the scissory cross
- Its depths sing and atlas
If you are after something you can grab and read on a bus ride that does not take up much space, this is a good little book. If you are after a good introduction to Lorca's works, then I'd hunt for something a bit more ordered and substantial.
April 4, 2019
The Dialogue of Two Snails is a collection of poems and (very) short stories of Federico García Lorca.
I'm not a big fan of poems in general, but I'll give them a go every once in a while. Some of the ones in this book was enjoyable, and I enjoyed the snail stories. Overall though, I wasn't impressed.
Two stars.
I'm not a big fan of poems in general, but I'll give them a go every once in a while. Some of the ones in this book was enjoyable, and I enjoyed the snail stories. Overall though, I wasn't impressed.
Two stars.
July 28, 2019
Beautiful and beguiling, just how poetry should be
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews