This book is a rarity in the wide world of literature. As a matter of fact Octavio Paz included in this book some of the few short stories he wrote. He's principally a poet but in Arenas Movedizas we see a clear, smart narrator. Framed in a fantastic and close reality, the different stories talk about difficult and interesting relationships: A man and a small wave, a man and the thief who wants to steal his eyes... the book is full of surprises for those who believed in Octavio Paz only as a poet and essayist. A must read for the lovers of Octavio Paz and the good world's literature.

A grand collection of poems written by the master technician of prose, Octavio Paz, in the late 50's and 60's. This was his first collection of writings released in the United States. The themes explored are typical Paz but two works standout and are worth the price of the book alone. The first is the epic "Piedra Del Sol/Sun Stone" where Paz explores the Aztec stone with erotic prose that illuminates as well as illustrates. The second is his reaction to the slaughter of demonstrating Mexican students in 1968 entitled "Ladera Este" which he protested by resigning as Ambassador to India. Excellent prose by Mexico's greatest poet.

"Early Poems 1935-1955," by Octavio Paz, is an excellent collection of work from this important Latin American writer. This is a bilingual edition, with Paz' Spanish originals on each even-numbered page, and English translations on each odd-numbered page. The translations represent the collaborative work of several individuals: Muriel Rukeyser (who also wrote a foreword), Paul Blackburn, Lysander Kemp, Denise Levertov, and William Carlos Williams.

The poems in this book represent a mix of short, haiku-like verses; prose poems; and longer poems. Although Paz is a distinctive and original talent, some of his work seems to echo the spirit of such earlier poets as William Blake, Walt Whitman, and Stephen Crane.

Paz often writes about writing and language, often with a metaphysical, reality-warping perspective. His poems include a multicultural mix of interesting references: Polyphemus, Buddha, Tlaloc, the Tower of Babel, etc. He uses much striking imagery, and frequently his writing has a prophetic tone.

There are many fine poems in this collection, but I was particularly impressed by "The prisoner," his stunning homage to the Marquis de Sade: "The letters of your name are still a scar that will not heal, / the tattoo of disgrace on certain faces." If you are interested in Latin American literature or 20th century poetry, I recommend this book.

Sin duda alguna, uno de los libros mas importantes en el quehacer poetico de Octavio Paz, premio Nobel 1990, es El Mono Gramatico, 1974. Texto reflexivo que invita al lector a la filosofia oriental y occidental planteando dos escenarios vividos con pasion por el autor mexicano. Desde dos caminos tan distantes como la India y su camino de Galta, "lo mejor sera escoger el camino de Galta...", confundido con Cambridge, escenario donde es posible encontrar al lector oculto, aquel que somos todos, leyendo "apaciblemente The Cambridge's Evening News" para, despues de un laberinto de agudisima inteligencia, lanzar al lector a los brazos de la propia lengua como eje vital de cualquier proceso poetico.

Asi, con dificultad y asombro, Paz conmueve con su fina diseccion al idioma espanol. Pero el dialogo se abre con el lector atento que busca el contacto con la palabra como icono de esperanza.

Libro escrito en 1970 mientras Paz discurria su vida y su poetica por los confines de la India y otros escenarios no menos asombrosos, este ejemplar escritor mexicano deja entrever un conocimiento total de la mitologia india, apropiandola a su mundo poetico, formando un dinamismo que prueba al mas habil lector de poesia.

Sin lugar a dudas, Paz no solo impuso un rigor estetico en cuanto al mundo poetico con este libro, sino que logro difundir sus sensaciones a traves de otra de sus pasiones: el ensayo.

AL final de El Mono Gramatico, la sensacion de haber conquistado un espacio donde el mejor arte poetico nos va delineando la valiosa policemica, indispensable en un poema tan bello como este.

I read this book recently upon the death of Octavio Paz. The mans mind was incredible and he was able to elucidate on such disparate themes as philosophy,religion and history. What is incredible is that he manages to tie these diverse subjects into a major topic, Mexican Art. The European influences on the major Mexican artists is indelible and Paz shows how one cannot exist without it's predecessor. He takes shots at such Mexican icons as Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo for their seemingly contradictory views. This book is not easy reading and requires a base of knowledge prior to reading. One area of interest is his first person accounts with famous people. Paz does not pull any punches and is a straight shooter. The insights he provides here are excellent. The expressions he provides are eloquent and given with great detail. A trully brilliant thinker that offers his thoughts for all to share and enjoy. This book makes you question your knowledge and makes you take the leap into a new understanding of what you thought you knew. Like all provacative writers who influence, you come out the better, as a result of his insights.

recientemente he terminado de leer este libro de octavio paz, el primero que leo de este autor, pero ciertamente no el ultimo. es un libro maravilloso, que no trata de desentranar el misterio del amor sino solo de exponer su alcance a traves de la historia, su funcion en la literatura y en la filosia. sus degradaciones y aberraciones.es realmente un libro erudito que se deja leer facilmente y que nos llena de conocimientos. se lo recomiendo a cualquiera que desee aprender, especialmente a aquellos que deseen aprender en el arte de la vida. por su alcance es un gran libro y nos lleva desde las civilizaciones orientales y su vision del amor dentro de un marco religioso , hasta nuestyra civilizacion y la vision del amor como una aberracion y algo pagano.. pero no quiero adelantarles nada mas, lean este libro. lo van a disfrutar

"Libertad bajo palabra" es una coleccion de textos publicados a lo largo de la vida del poeta. Un gran libro.

The very concept of grammar - a system in which language can be fixed, structured and therefore transformed - is one of the great achievements of Indian culture. In the past 50 years philosophers and linguists have devoted enormous intellectual energies to the investigation of how the concept was developed among the thinkers of ancient India, for whom the idea became a central problem in their philosophical tradition. Was language, our faculty for naming objects, given by God or did man invent it, either on his own or with powers borrowed from the divine realm?

Through a species of time-space journey akin to Hanuman's, Octavio Paz explores this dilemma: ''What is language made of,'' he asks, ''and most important of all, is it already made, or is it something that is perpetually in the making?''

Paz ha creado una joya de incalculable valor. Con toda la plasticidad que un genio puede brindarle a un texto, San Octavio recorre en Piedra de Sol todos los grandes temas de la poesía y con ello, del hombre. Es tan natural el desempeño de sus letras que es necesario hacer un esfuerzo para asimilar que nos han llevado de un confín a otro, de la magia a la realidad, de la mujer a la soledad, del río al dolor. Gracias a la serenidad del texto la forma (son 584 endecasílabos) no se percibe en la lectura: así emergen los gigantes.

One of the true masters of American art of the 20th century, the Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo was able to incorporate pre-Columbian ideas and transform them into contemporary visions. This is an excellent book worth finding as there is a relatively new edition(1995) from Spain superceeding the original published in 1982. The book has beautiful color prints from the various museums of the world where the masterpieces are now found. There are over 280 color prints, an excellent chronology that includes his sculptures and murals and an informative basic bibliography for future reference. Twelve different countries house the works used in this wonderful book, more than fifty different museums or university's with the vast majority being in the United States are the basis for the incredible paintings displayed in this book. The text provided is a fascinating read in the words of the artist himself, explaining his art including thoughts on the various influences on his prolific career. Of course, the French art critic and author of several books, Jacques Lassaigne does a masterful job of discussinfg the training of Tamayo, and the influences of chemistry and geometry on the works of Tamayo. An addional bonus is the introduction by the late great poet and essayist, Octavio Paz. Paz's views come from the original 1982 publication, where Paz gives his opinions on Tamayo's works and characterizes it as a "non-human vision of space and time" and how "the sybolism of ancient art becomes transfiguration" in the hands of Tamayo. The colorful paintings, the use of symbolism as metaphor are photographed here on thick paper stock for a book that is of heirloom quality. I highly recommend seeking out this book for an experience in picture and text that is as otherworldly as the art itself. There are many books on Tamayo but this is quite simply one of the best and it is with good reason that a new edition has become available. This is a book that is inspirational and great for any lover of American art.