The Origins of Desire: Modern Spanish Short Stories

Although Franco didn't die until 1975, when he relinquished his premiership in 1973 it signaled the beginning of a new era of freedom for Spain. After 36 years of Francoism and a literature engagee , the 29 Castilian, Majorcan and Catalan writers represented here are experimenting with what Spanish literature is. Many have availed themselves of the latest profitable import from the New World, magic realism, producing some of the most effective pieces such as Juan Jose Millas's ``The Lecture,'' about a professor's successful attempts to keep a dead body from both discovery and decay; ``Child Rodolfo,'' Robert Saladrigas's piece on a mysterious tour guide; and Javier Marias's romantic correspondence with the dead in ``As the Women Sleep.'' A mystical eroticism infuses stories by Carme Rier, Pedro Zarraluki and Javier Garcia Sanchez while others offer a deeply moving reconsideration of bourgeois mores--none more poignantly than Esther Tusquets in her ``Summer Orchestra.'' Although the work of numerous different translators, the flowing language is consistently measured, matter-of-fact, self-conscious and aware of life's absurdities. These stories make for a seductive introduction to the art of short fiction in Spain. (May)