Leyendas Puertorriqueñas

by Cayetano Coll y Toste

Cayetano Coll y Toste, ilustre poeta y profundo conocedor de la historia y las costumbres de su Puerto Rico natal, recopila en estas Tradiciones y leyendas puertorriqueñas casi un centenar de cuentos, mitos y fábulas protagonizados por nativos, descubridores, colonizadores y criollos en la isla caribeña. Fechada en 1925, esta primera edición que aquí presentamos en formato facsímil recopila en dos tomos estas leyendas que cubren tres siglos y medio de vida colonial, desde 1511 hasta 1876. Influido por Cervantes y Zorrilla y de escritura pictórica, paisajista y colorista, Coll y Toste rescata de la memoria de su pueblo leyendas populares como La garita del diablo, de 1790, o mitos poéticos tradicionales como La fuente mágica, de 1512. El autor, que llegaría a ser Secretario de Agricultura y Comercio, Secretario de Hacienda y Secretario Civil del Gobierno, vio su labor investigadora reconocida en 1913, cuando fue nombrado Historiador Oficial de Puerto Rico.

Genres: Spanish Literature, Classics, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1925

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice collection and entry into Puerto Rican folk tales. A few didn’t make sense as to why they were there, even with the historical notation at the end. I loved how the translator picked and chose to create a historical quilt for newcomers, but I wish he did it chronically so we’d have gotten that quilt effect. Arranging by genre meant we lost that these folk tales have some roots from history.

[Jenessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up at one of the forts in San Juan. Overall I found it disappointing. I was definitely hoping for more like mythology of the Taino native people, though it does say legends of colonial times. These are definitely very colonial, thus very racist against the native people. Some were just plain boring. I guess there is some aspect of historical importance but if I had kids I definitely wouldn’t be reading this to my kid. I do think they did a good job putting the context of the legends in the back of the book, that was the most interesting part for me.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a gift from a friend and was hand delivered to me from Puerto Rico itself, so that alone makes it special! It is a collection of semi-historical legends from Spanish colonial times, and as the context suggests, from the Spanish perspective. I struggled deciding how exactly to rate this, because the underlying nature of the book is rather uncomfortable - the derogatory tone towards native people and the matter of fact descriptions of historically accurate crimes against them in the midst of these seemingly lighthearted folk tales is truly awful. However, it was educational, and I believe that in itself is the book's intention.

[Kit Sinatra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always like reading folklore and stories from other countries and actually enjoyed this one. Some of the stories I really liked, some were very boring and forgettable. I really like the adventure tales section the most.

[Steven Rivera Camacho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing recollection of vignettes during colonial Puerto Rican time. Good translation of the stories. Love reading about it and knowing where all the places were in Puerto Rico.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Some of the tales were boring but overall still a cool book.

[Lessie Paugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be my favorite child book of legends.