Description
The Gorilla Breeder
Book Summary
In "The Gorilla Breeder," Roberto Arlt transports us to North Africa in the thirties through a collection of fascinating and mysterious tales. After embarking for Spain in 1935, the Argentine author discovers an exotic world in Tangier, Tetuan, and Ceuta that brings these stories to life. The work offers a unique look at African oral tradition, combining humor with the terrible in a literary rarity that showcases a little-known facet of the Buenos Aires writer.
What is it about?
The book collects the experiences and observations of Roberto Arlt during his 1935 trip to North Africa. Through a series of independent stories, the author explores the streets, markets, and most unusual corners of cities like Tangier, Tetuan, and Ceuta. Each story draws from the local oral tradition, presenting picturesque characters, extreme situations, and anecdotes that oscillate between the amusing and the unsettling. Arlt captures the essence of an exotic and fascinating world, offering a personal and literary vision of his travel discoveries.
Main themes
- The exoticism of North Africa in the 1930s
- Oral tradition as a source of narration and mystery
- The contrast between the comic and the tragic in human experience
- Travel as personal and literary discovery
- Rarity and uniqueness in the work of Roberto Arlt
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in travel literature with a narrative and customary approach, as well as followers of Roberto Arlt's work who wish to explore a lesser-known facet of the author. It will also be attractive to those who enjoy short stories that combine humor, mystery, and cultural observation, and to those passionate about North African cultures and their oral traditions.
What this book offers
- A unique literary experience that blends real travel with fiction inspired by oral tradition
- An original perspective on the North Africa of the thirties, seen through the eyes of a great writer
- Short, self-contained stories, ideal for agile and varied reading
- A rarity within Roberto Arlt's production that expands the understanding of his literary universe
Technical specifications
- Author: Arlt, Roberto
- Publisher: Ediciones del Viento, S.L.
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: ANTHOLOGIES (NON-POETIC), MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION, TRAVEL LITERATURE
- Collection: VIENTO SIMUN
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: September 2012
- Number of pages: 144
- Weight: 230 g
Editorial assessment
"The Gorilla Breeder" represents a rarely visited gem within Roberto Arlt's catalog, offering readers a window into an exotic and fascinating world. The work stands out for its ability to combine humor with the mysterious, maintaining the direct and biting style characteristic of the author. For lovers of travel literature and short stories with a flavor of oral tradition, this book is a valuable discovery that enriches the understanding of 20th-century Argentine narrative.