This exciting collection celebrates the richness and variety of the Spanish short story from the nineteenth century to the present day.Featuring over fifty stories selected by revered translator Margaret Jull Costa it blends old favourites and hidden gems many of which have never before been translated into English and introduces readers to surprising new voices as well as giants of Spanish literary culture from Emilia Pardo Bazn and Leopoldo Alas through Merc Rodoreda and Manuel Rivas to Ana Maria Matute and Javier Maras. Brimming with romance horror history farce strangeness and beauty and showcasing alluring hairdressers war defectors vampiric mothers and talismanic mandrake roots the daring and entertaining assortment of tales in The Penguin Book of Spanish Short Stories will be a treasure trove for readers.