Description
This exciting new anthology gathers together Puerto Rican folktales that were passed down orally for generations before finally being transcribed beginning in 1914 by the team of famous anthropologist Franz Boas. These charming tales give readers a window into the imaginations and aspirations of Puerto Rico's peasants, the Jibaro.
Some stories provide a distinctive Caribbean twist on classic tales including "Snow White" and "Cinderella." Others fictionalize the lives of local historical figures, such as infamous pirate Roberto Cofresi, rendered here as a Robin Hood figure who subverts the colonial social order. The collection also introduces such beloved local characters as Cucarachita Martina, the kind cockroach who falls in love with Ratoncito Perez, her devoted mouse husband who brings her delicious food.
Including a fresh English translation of each folktale as well as the original Spanish version, the collection also contains an introduction from literary historian Rafael Ocasio that highlights the historical importance of these tales and the Jibaro cultural values they impart. These vibrant, funny, and poignant stories will give readers unique insights into Puerto Rico's rich cultural heritage.
Esta nueva y emocionante antologia reune cuentos populares puertorriquenos que fueron transmitidos oralmente durante generaciones antes de ser finalmente transcritos comenzando en 1914 por el equipo del famoso antropologo Franz Boas. Estos encantadores cuentos ofrecen a los lectores un vistazo a la imaginacion y las aspiraciones de los jibaros, los campesinos de Puerto Rico.
Algunas historias brindan un distintivo toque caribeno a cuentos clasicos como "Blanca Nieves" y "Cenicienta". Otros ficcionalizan la vida de personajes historicos locales, como el famoso pirata Roberto Cofresi, representado como una figura al estilo de Robin Hood, quien subvierte el orden social colonial. La coleccion tambien presenta personajes locales tan queridos como Cucarachita Martina, la amable cucaracha que se enamora de Ratoncito Perez, su devoto esposo raton que le trae deliciosa comida.
Incluyendo una nueva traduccion al ingles de estos cuentos populares, asi como las versiones originales en espanol, la coleccion tambien contiene una introduccion del historiador literario Rafael Ocasio, quien destaca la importancia historica de estos cuentos y los valores culturales del jibaro que estos imparten en los relatos. Estas historias vibrantes, divertidas y conmovedoras brindaran a los lectores una vision unica de la rica herencia cultural de Puerto Rico.
Introduccion en espanol (https://d3tto5i5w9ogdd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/03154419/Ocasio_Cuentos_Intro_Espan%CC%83ol.pdf)
Rafael Ocasio will discussing his book, 'Folk Stories from the Hills of Puerto Rico / Cuentos folkloricos de las montanas de Puerto Rico' at Biblioteca Juvenil de Mayaguez in Puerto Rico (https://youtu.be/o6Tub094EoI)
About the Author
RAFAEL OCASIO is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Spanish at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. His many books include Reinaldo Arenas: Cuba's Political and Sexual Outlaw, A Gay Cuban in Exile, Afro-Cuban Costumbrismo: From Plantations to the Slums, and A Bristol, Rhode Island, and Matanzas, Cuba, Slavery Connection: The Diary of George Howe.
RAFAEL OCASIO es Charles A. Dana Profesor de espanol en Agnes Scott College en Decatur, Georgia. Sus libros incluyen Reinaldo Arenas: Cuba's Political and Sexual Outlaw, A Gay Cuban in Exile, Afro-Cuban Costumbrismo: From Plantations to the Slums, and A Bristol, Rhode Island, and Matanzas, Cuba, Slavery Connection: The Diary of George Howe.
Reviews
"Rafael Ocasio's unique bilingual anthology, Folk Stories from the Hills of Puerto Rico, is a treasure of delectable and profound tales collected at the beginning of the twentieth century. Moreover, Ocasio's comprehensive introduction and notes about the history of these tales fills a gap in our understanding of the unusual contribution made by Puerto Rican peasants to the island's cultural tradition. In short, this is a significant and remarkable book that will bring joy to readers." -- Jack Zipes * translator and editor of The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm: The Complete First *
"Esta excepcional antologia bilingue por Rafael Ocasio, Cuentos folkloricos de las montanas de Puerto Rico, es un tesoro de sabrosos e intensos cuentos recopilados a principios del siglo XX. Ademas, la amplia introduccion de Ocasio y sus notas sobre la historia de estos cuentos llenan un vacio sobre nuestra comprension de la inusual contribucion realizada por los campesinos puertorriquenos a la tradicion cultural de la isla. En resumen, este es un libro significativo y extraordinario que llenara de alegria a sus lectores." -- Jack Zipes * traductor y editor, The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm: The Complete First Edit *
"The tales collected in this volume highlight Jibaro ingenuity, courage, and resilience while illuminating Puerto Rican traditions and values that contextualize the time in which they were collected. Like the jewels excavated by the legendary pirate Contreras, these folk stories are still 'very pretty and very valuable,' and they demand to be shared." -- Lorraine M. Lopez * author of Rituals of Movement in the Writing of Judith Ortiz Cofer *
"Los cuentos recogidos en este volumen resaltan el ingenio, el coraje y la resiliencia del jibaro, al tiempo que iluminan las tradiciones y valores puertorriquenos que contextualizan el tiempo en que fueron recogidos. Al igual que las joyas excavadas por el legendario pirata Contreras, estas historias populares siguen siendo 'muy bonitas y muy valiosas,' y exigen ser compartidas." -- Lorraine M. Lopez * autora de Rituals of Movement in the Writing of Judith Ortiz Cofer *
"Presentan Libro Sobre Los Cuentos Folklo ricos de Puerto Rico" * Periodico Vision de Mayaguez *
Highlighted as the author of Folk Tales from the Hills of Puerto Rico/Cuentos folkloricos de las montanas de Puerto Rico * CARICON 2021 Magazine *
"Popular Puerto Rican folklore to be shared in the Caribbean, North and Latin America." * Caribbean Magazine *
"Greyhound Grad Publishes Two Books Focused on Puerto Rican Folklore," by Desiree Cooper * Eastern New Mexico University *
"Mapping Puerto Rico Through Folklore," an interview with Rafael Ocasio * The Caribbean Science Fiction Network *
Podcast and interview, "Cuentos folkloricos de las montanas de Puerto Rico", Mirada Cientifica. Episodo Desinformacion - Narrativas * Mirada Cientifica podcast *
"Bilingual folklore book sheds light on Puerto Rican cultural identity," by John McPhaul * The San Juan Daily Star *
Historias 157 - Rural Folktales and Empire in Puerto Rico with Rafa Ocasio * Historias podcast *
Book Information
ISBN 9781978822993
Author Rafael Ocasio
Format Hardback
Page Count 262
Imprint Rutgers University Press
Publisher Rutgers University Press
Weight(grams) 463g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 20mm
Some stories provide a distinctive Caribbean twist on classic tales including "Snow White" and "Cinderella." Others fictionalize the lives of local historical figures, such as infamous pirate Roberto Cofresi, rendered here as a Robin Hood figure who subverts the colonial social order. The collection also introduces such beloved local characters as Cucarachita Martina, the kind cockroach who falls in love with Ratoncito Perez, her devoted mouse husband who brings her delicious food.
Including a fresh English translation of each folktale as well as the original Spanish version, the collection also contains an introduction from literary historian Rafael Ocasio that highlights the historical importance of these tales and the Jibaro cultural values they impart. These vibrant, funny, and poignant stories will give readers unique insights into Puerto Rico's rich cultural heritage.
Esta nueva y emocionante antologia reune cuentos populares puertorriquenos que fueron transmitidos oralmente durante generaciones antes de ser finalmente transcritos comenzando en 1914 por el equipo del famoso antropologo Franz Boas. Estos encantadores cuentos ofrecen a los lectores un vistazo a la imaginacion y las aspiraciones de los jibaros, los campesinos de Puerto Rico.
Algunas historias brindan un distintivo toque caribeno a cuentos clasicos como "Blanca Nieves" y "Cenicienta". Otros ficcionalizan la vida de personajes historicos locales, como el famoso pirata Roberto Cofresi, representado como una figura al estilo de Robin Hood, quien subvierte el orden social colonial. La coleccion tambien presenta personajes locales tan queridos como Cucarachita Martina, la amable cucaracha que se enamora de Ratoncito Perez, su devoto esposo raton que le trae deliciosa comida.
Incluyendo una nueva traduccion al ingles de estos cuentos populares, asi como las versiones originales en espanol, la coleccion tambien contiene una introduccion del historiador literario Rafael Ocasio, quien destaca la importancia historica de estos cuentos y los valores culturales del jibaro que estos imparten en los relatos. Estas historias vibrantes, divertidas y conmovedoras brindaran a los lectores una vision unica de la rica herencia cultural de Puerto Rico.
Introduccion en espanol (https://d3tto5i5w9ogdd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/03154419/Ocasio_Cuentos_Intro_Espan%CC%83ol.pdf)
Rafael Ocasio will discussing his book, 'Folk Stories from the Hills of Puerto Rico / Cuentos folkloricos de las montanas de Puerto Rico' at Biblioteca Juvenil de Mayaguez in Puerto Rico (https://youtu.be/o6Tub094EoI)
About the Author
RAFAEL OCASIO is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Spanish at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. His many books include Reinaldo Arenas: Cuba's Political and Sexual Outlaw, A Gay Cuban in Exile, Afro-Cuban Costumbrismo: From Plantations to the Slums, and A Bristol, Rhode Island, and Matanzas, Cuba, Slavery Connection: The Diary of George Howe.
RAFAEL OCASIO es Charles A. Dana Profesor de espanol en Agnes Scott College en Decatur, Georgia. Sus libros incluyen Reinaldo Arenas: Cuba's Political and Sexual Outlaw, A Gay Cuban in Exile, Afro-Cuban Costumbrismo: From Plantations to the Slums, and A Bristol, Rhode Island, and Matanzas, Cuba, Slavery Connection: The Diary of George Howe.
Reviews
"Rafael Ocasio's unique bilingual anthology, Folk Stories from the Hills of Puerto Rico, is a treasure of delectable and profound tales collected at the beginning of the twentieth century. Moreover, Ocasio's comprehensive introduction and notes about the history of these tales fills a gap in our understanding of the unusual contribution made by Puerto Rican peasants to the island's cultural tradition. In short, this is a significant and remarkable book that will bring joy to readers." -- Jack Zipes * translator and editor of The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm: The Complete First *
"Esta excepcional antologia bilingue por Rafael Ocasio, Cuentos folkloricos de las montanas de Puerto Rico, es un tesoro de sabrosos e intensos cuentos recopilados a principios del siglo XX. Ademas, la amplia introduccion de Ocasio y sus notas sobre la historia de estos cuentos llenan un vacio sobre nuestra comprension de la inusual contribucion realizada por los campesinos puertorriquenos a la tradicion cultural de la isla. En resumen, este es un libro significativo y extraordinario que llenara de alegria a sus lectores." -- Jack Zipes * traductor y editor, The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm: The Complete First Edit *
"The tales collected in this volume highlight Jibaro ingenuity, courage, and resilience while illuminating Puerto Rican traditions and values that contextualize the time in which they were collected. Like the jewels excavated by the legendary pirate Contreras, these folk stories are still 'very pretty and very valuable,' and they demand to be shared." -- Lorraine M. Lopez * author of Rituals of Movement in the Writing of Judith Ortiz Cofer *
"Los cuentos recogidos en este volumen resaltan el ingenio, el coraje y la resiliencia del jibaro, al tiempo que iluminan las tradiciones y valores puertorriquenos que contextualizan el tiempo en que fueron recogidos. Al igual que las joyas excavadas por el legendario pirata Contreras, estas historias populares siguen siendo 'muy bonitas y muy valiosas,' y exigen ser compartidas." -- Lorraine M. Lopez * autora de Rituals of Movement in the Writing of Judith Ortiz Cofer *
"Presentan Libro Sobre Los Cuentos Folklo ricos de Puerto Rico" * Periodico Vision de Mayaguez *
Highlighted as the author of Folk Tales from the Hills of Puerto Rico/Cuentos folkloricos de las montanas de Puerto Rico * CARICON 2021 Magazine *
"Popular Puerto Rican folklore to be shared in the Caribbean, North and Latin America." * Caribbean Magazine *
"Greyhound Grad Publishes Two Books Focused on Puerto Rican Folklore," by Desiree Cooper * Eastern New Mexico University *
"Mapping Puerto Rico Through Folklore," an interview with Rafael Ocasio * The Caribbean Science Fiction Network *
Podcast and interview, "Cuentos folkloricos de las montanas de Puerto Rico", Mirada Cientifica. Episodo Desinformacion - Narrativas * Mirada Cientifica podcast *
"Bilingual folklore book sheds light on Puerto Rican cultural identity," by John McPhaul * The San Juan Daily Star *
Historias 157 - Rural Folktales and Empire in Puerto Rico with Rafa Ocasio * Historias podcast *
Book Information
ISBN 9781978822993
Author Rafael Ocasio
Format Hardback
Page Count 262
Imprint Rutgers University Press
Publisher Rutgers University Press
Weight(grams) 463g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 20mm
