Translated by Paul Blackburn

'...Cronopios and Famas is a collection of losely connected, strongly surrealistic prose fragments; alternately humourous and grotesque, they read like Thurber parables written by Kafka.' Long Beach Independant

'Cortazar cleanses the doors of perception and mounts a subtle, bland assault on the mental rigidities we hold most dear.' Washington Post

Julio Cortazar once again demonstrates his power as the literary conjuror of the day. Presented to us as a series of dazzling fables and fantasies, Cronopios and Famas is an examination of times and objects, of mannerisms and events, fragmented and enacted in a world which seems strangely misplaced but which is uncomfortably close to our own.

Cronopios and Famas is a collection of improvisations, where time and logic desert their singular path and jump back and forth over the brilliant thread of his themes. Described as a 'hardbound vaudeville', it is a short, sharp virtuoso of a show, full of tricks, illusions and spectacular entertainments. Cortazar's utter economy of words is startling. he does more in one paragrapg than most writers manage with a full-blown short story.

Price: £9.99
ISBN:  978-07145-25204
Modern Classic New edition 2011