Cortázar, Julio (Vol. 13) - Introduction

Cortázar, Julio 1914–

An Argentinian novelist, short story writer, translator, and poet, Cortázar is considered a master of fantastic literature. In his hands, the fabric of reality is woven almost imperceptibly with threads of fantasy, creating a unique fiction that often bears the influence of his fellow fantasist, Borges. Cortázar probes the subconscious of his characters, and often the reader is confounded in his attempt to decipher whether he is in the realm of the bizarre or is witness to the machinations of a deranged mind. Cortázar's work marks a departure from traditional Latin American literature, offering a dazzling display of language and structural openness. (See also CLC, Vols. 2, 3, 5, 10, and Contemporary Authors, Vols. 21-24, rev. ed.)