Kingdom of this World / specifically: War of Time (collected stories)
Alejo Carpentier · 1958
Carpentier invented "lo real maravilloso" (the marvelous real) before Garcia Marquez coined magical realism. His stories inhabit the intersection of European Surrealism and Caribbean history.
The case against
Carpentier writes baroque Spanish stacked clause on clause, and English translation turns the music into upholstery. His people are emblems first: Ti Noël witnesses history rather than living a life, and the War of Time stories run on their conceits (a life rewound, all wars as one war) more than on anyone in them. Magnificent architecture, unheated rooms.
Short Stories · the Pro canon
The case for it and the rest of the canon open with Pro.
if this one calls to you, so will these →
