Jo Labanyi, one of the many excellent English scholars who work in Hispanic studies (a notable other being Melveena McKendrick), writes the book that needed to be written reintroducing the Spanish novel of the nineteenth century to academic readers. Her piece on Juan Valera's PEPITA JIMENEZ may be the best article written on that topic. She of course addresses Clarín, Galdós, Pardo Bazán, and the literary milieu.

With a tremendously helpful general introduction and a bibliography that just won't quit, this is a must-have for "decimononistas."

This book is about the life of a hired assassin Triste during the heavy pro-peronist period. The author did a very good job at showing us the humane side of the hero (or in this case the anti-hero) and at reflecting the argentine society and politics of that time through the eyes of Triste and his friend Chavez. I enjoyed reading the book in english, the translation was easy and smooth. And in addition I learned a lot about argentine history/politics in a nice enjoyable way. I recommend that you read this book especially if you enjoy political thrillers.