Stories

by Sergio Ramírez, Nick Caistor (Translator)

In the two decades since Sergio Ramírez left active politics as a Sandinista leader of one of the great leftist revolutions of the Americas, his output as a writer and the appreciation of his literary achievement have only grown larger, culminating in his winning the Cervantes Prize, the highest literary accolade for a writer in the Hispanic world. These stories dating from early in his writing career and also marking his return to literature after a gap of some years in active politics, testify to the subtlety, delicacy and wit of Nicaragua’s leading literary voice.

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Sergio Ramírez Mercado (born August 5, 1942 in Masatepe, Nicaragua) is a Nicaraguan writer and intellectual who served in the leftist Government Junta of National Reconstruction and as Vice President of the country 1985-1990 under the presidency of Daniel Ortega.

Born in Masatepe in 1942, he published his first book, Cuentos, in 1963. He received his law degree from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua of León in 1964, where he obtained the Gold Medal for being the best student.

In 1977 Ramírez became head of the "Group of Twelve", a group of prominent intellectuals, priests, businesspeople, and members of civil society who publicly stated their support for the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) in its struggle to topple the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza Debayle. With the triumph of the Revolution in 1979, he became part of the Junta of the Government of National Reconstruction, where he presided over the National Council of Education. He was elected vice-president of Nicaragua in 1984 and was sworn in 1985.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read from Nicaragua I think. Really good, most of the stories were so clever and funny. My favourite was “to Jackie with all our heart”
Great on the influence of American imperialism and capitalism

[Lewis Isbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very fine

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was on sale for a dime at the Harlingen, Texas, public library. It was worth more than that. I guess the author was the vice-president of Nicaragua in the 80s. I know so little about anything.

[I · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a little diamond of a book; and like any diamond, you have to dig deep to gain the riches contained within these eight short stories.

[Bryan Edgington · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice collection of stories. Really enjoyed the twists in a few, won't mention them so there are not any spoilers.