Jorge Luis Borges: Collected Fictions: Translated by Andrew Hurley

Borges’ collected fictions is truly an intriguing collection. Like any successful portfolio, each piece complements the previous and following one. One of the first surrealists, Borges has created many different worlds through his characters, settings, and plots. Each story— short, long, or in-between— is composed to examine self through various characters with different traits that the average human lacks; the “what-ifs” of life.
Broken down into years, this collection allows you to see Borges’ growth as well as different events that he’s experienced. For example, in the 1935 A Universal History of Iniquity, Borges tells historically-based stories with his own twist—very similar to authors Peter Carrey and Michael Ondaatje. In later collections, such as his 1944 The Garden of Forking Paths and The Aleph, we begin to see a less concrete style and eventually what Borges became known for—surrealism.
Many of Borges’ stories tell a tale of vicarious living but none more powerfully than “Borges and I” from his 1960 collection The Maker. This piece is very personal and shows the different aspects of his career as a writer and what that has meant to him. In addition, this particular piece has touched many a person because of its encompassing message of self.
With a variety of stories to choose from, Borges has something for everyone. Shorter pieces make for convenient reading and also allow the reader to make connections both within the book and also with contemporary pieces of the same genre—great for students and teachers alike. Classical literature is not always enjoyable reading for all, but Borges’ Collected Fictions will be hard for even the toughest critic to put down.