A literary guide to Argentina by its most famous writer

Jorge Luis Borges wrote about Argentina as only someone passionate about his homeland can. On Argentina reveals the many facets of his passion in essays, poems, and stories through which he sought to bring Argentina forward on the world stage, and to do for Buenos Aires what James Joyce did for Dublin.

In colorful pieces on the tango and the gaucho, on the card game truco, and on the criollos (immigrants from Spain) and compadritos (street-corner thugs), we gain insight not only into unique aspects of Argentine culture but also into the intellect and values of one of Latin America’s most influential writers. Featuring material available in English for the first time, this unprecedented collection is an invaluable literary and travel companion for devotees of both Borges and Argentina. 

On Argentina

Contents

Introduction by Alfred Mac Adam
A Note on the Text

• Man on Pink Corner
 
From Inquisitions (1925)
• Buenos Aires
• The Mythical Founding of Buenos Aires
• Ascasubi
• The Criollo Element in Ipuche
• The Complaint of All Criollos
• Eduardo González Lanuza
 
From Moon Across the Way (1925) 
• General Quiroga Rides to His Death in a Carriage
 
From The Full Extent of My Hope (1926)
• Carriego and the Meaning of the Arrabal
• The Full Extent of My Hope
• The Pampa and the Suburbio Are Gods
• The Purple Land
• Leopoldo Lugones: Romancero
 
From The Language of the Argentines (1928)
• Truco
• Truco (poem)
• Genealogy of the Tango
• Situating Almafuerte
• The Language of the Argentines
 
From Evaristo Carriego (1930) 
• Buenos Aires: Palermo
• A History of the Tango
 
Miscellany (1931–1951)
• Our Inabilities
• I, a Jew
• Borges's  prologue to the German edition of Enrique Amorim's La carreta
• Definition of a Germanophile 
• Our Poor Individualism
• The Argentine Writer and Tradition

• The South
 
Glossary
Sources
Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) was an Argentine poet, essayist, and author of short stories. His most notable works as a key literary Spanish-language figure of the twentieth century include Ficciones (Fictions) and El Aleph (The Aleph). He received a BA from the College of Geneva. He was also appointed the director of the National Public Library and professor of English literature at the University of Buenos Aries in 1955. During his lifetime, Borges received the first Prix International Formentor Prize which he shared alongside Samuel Beckett in 1961. He also received the Jerusalem Prize for the Freedom of the Individual in Society in 1971. View titles by Jorge Luis Borges

About

A literary guide to Argentina by its most famous writer

Jorge Luis Borges wrote about Argentina as only someone passionate about his homeland can. On Argentina reveals the many facets of his passion in essays, poems, and stories through which he sought to bring Argentina forward on the world stage, and to do for Buenos Aires what James Joyce did for Dublin.

In colorful pieces on the tango and the gaucho, on the card game truco, and on the criollos (immigrants from Spain) and compadritos (street-corner thugs), we gain insight not only into unique aspects of Argentine culture but also into the intellect and values of one of Latin America’s most influential writers. Featuring material available in English for the first time, this unprecedented collection is an invaluable literary and travel companion for devotees of both Borges and Argentina. 

Excerpt

On Argentina

Contents

Introduction by Alfred Mac Adam
A Note on the Text

• Man on Pink Corner
 
From Inquisitions (1925)
• Buenos Aires
• The Mythical Founding of Buenos Aires
• Ascasubi
• The Criollo Element in Ipuche
• The Complaint of All Criollos
• Eduardo González Lanuza
 
From Moon Across the Way (1925) 
• General Quiroga Rides to His Death in a Carriage
 
From The Full Extent of My Hope (1926)
• Carriego and the Meaning of the Arrabal
• The Full Extent of My Hope
• The Pampa and the Suburbio Are Gods
• The Purple Land
• Leopoldo Lugones: Romancero
 
From The Language of the Argentines (1928)
• Truco
• Truco (poem)
• Genealogy of the Tango
• Situating Almafuerte
• The Language of the Argentines
 
From Evaristo Carriego (1930) 
• Buenos Aires: Palermo
• A History of the Tango
 
Miscellany (1931–1951)
• Our Inabilities
• I, a Jew
• Borges's  prologue to the German edition of Enrique Amorim's La carreta
• Definition of a Germanophile 
• Our Poor Individualism
• The Argentine Writer and Tradition

• The South
 
Glossary
Sources

Author

Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) was an Argentine poet, essayist, and author of short stories. His most notable works as a key literary Spanish-language figure of the twentieth century include Ficciones (Fictions) and El Aleph (The Aleph). He received a BA from the College of Geneva. He was also appointed the director of the National Public Library and professor of English literature at the University of Buenos Aries in 1955. During his lifetime, Borges received the first Prix International Formentor Prize which he shared alongside Samuel Beckett in 1961. He also received the Jerusalem Prize for the Freedom of the Individual in Society in 1971. View titles by Jorge Luis Borges

Books for Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Every May we celebrate the rich history and culture of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Browse a curated selection of fiction and nonfiction books by AANHPI creators that we think your students will love. Find our full collection of titles for Higher Education here.

Read more