Mad Toy by Roberto Arlt (English) Paperback Book

Description: Mad Toy by Roberto Arlt, Michele Aynesworth Roberto Arlt (1900-1942), celebrated in Argentina for his tragicomic, punch-in-the-jaw writing during the 1920s and 1930s, was a forerunner of Latin American "boom" and "postboom" novelists such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende. This title presents a set against the chaotic background of Buenos Aires in the early twentieth century. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Roberto Arlt (1900-1942), celebrated in Argentina for his tragicomic, punch-in-the-jaw writing during the 1920s and 1930s, was a forerunner of Latin American "boom" and "postboom" novelists such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende. Mad Toy, Arlts most acclaimed novel, is set against the chaotic background of Buenos Aires in the early twentieth century. Set in the badlands of adolescence, where acts of theft and betrayal become metaphors for creativity, Mad Toy is equal parts pulp fiction, realism, detective story, expressionist drama, and creative memoir. An immigrant son of a German father and an Italian mother, Arlt as a youth was poor, often hungry, and dropped out of school in the third grade. In Mad Toy he brings his personal experience to bear on the lives of his characters. Published in 1926 as El Juguete Rabioso, the novel follows the adventures of Silvio Astier, a poverty-stricken and frustrated youth who is drawn to gangs and a life of petty crime.As Silvio struggles to bridge the gap between exuberant imagination and the sordid reality around him, he becomes fascinated with weapons, explosives, vandalism, and thievery, despite a desperate desire to rise above his origins. Flavoured with a dash of romance, a hint of allegory, and a healthy dose of irony, the novels language varies from the cultured idiom of the narrator to the dialects and street slang of the novels many colourful characters. Mad Toy has appeared in numerous Spanish editions and has been adapted for the stage and for film. It is the second of his novels to be translated into English. Back Cover "Arlts influence on figures like Borges, Cortazar, Onetti, and Piglia is substantial-and equally so are his literary reverberations today, when his grim, sordid view of life seems to speak louder than ever before."-Ilan Stavans, editor ofMutual Impressions: Writers from the Americas Reading One Another Author Biography Roberto Arlt (1900–42) was an Argentine writer who published numerous plays and novels during his lifetime. Table of Contents Acknowledgments Introduction A Note on the Translation Arlts Dedication to Ricardo Guiraldes 1. The Band of Thieves 2. Works and Days 3. Mad Toy 4. Judas Iscariot Appendix. The Neighborhood Poet Notes Works Cited Review "Arlts influence on figures like Borges, Cortazar, Onetti, and Piglia is substantial-and equally so are his literary reverberations today, when his grim, sordid view of life seems to speak louder than ever before. "-Ilan Stavans "Roberto Arlt is the greatest Argentine writer of the twentieth century."-Ricardo Piglia "With a novel such as Mad Toy, brimming with fantasy and romance, yet pulling the rug out from under the protagonist-and the reader-at every turn, it seems clear that Arlts purpose is not just to tell a good story. Along the way, he also illustrates the uses of fantasy and humour. Fantasy, transforming the sordid into the beautiful, makes life seem sweeter; humour, exposing the illusions of fantasy, makes wisdom tolerable."-from the Introduction Kirkus US Review This is the first (1926) novel published by the neglected Argentinian postmodernist writer (1900-42) whose phantasmagoric The Seven Madmen (English translation, 1999) rivals the masterpieces of Cortazar, Garcia Marquez, and Onetti. Its the story of Silvio Astier (told by himself in old age), a street thug inspired by "the thrilling literature of outlaws and bandits," and educated in crime by his Fagin-like mentor Rengo (a charmer of a villain if there ever was one). Mad Toy bears interesting resemblances as well to both Don Quixote and Luis Bunuels classic naturalist film Los Olvidados. In addition to the novels own considerable interest, Aynesworths illuminating remarks about Arlts vigorous "polyglot style" shed further light on a richly entertaining and unquestionably important work. (Kirkus Reviews) Review Quote "With a novel such as Mad Toy, brimming with fantasy and romance, yet pulling the rug out from under the protagonist-and the reader-at every turn, it seems clear that Arlts purpose is not just to tell a good story. Along the way, he also illustrates the uses of fantasy and humor. Fantasy, transforming the sordid into the beautiful, makes life seem sweeter; humor, exposing the illusions of fantasy, makes wisdom tolerable."-from the Introduction Promotional "Headline" A translation of one of the most important Argentine writers of the first half of the twentieth century, Robert Arlt, who also influenced prominent writers like Borges, Cortazar and Piglia. This work will be published in English for the first time Details ISBN0822329409 Author Michele Aynesworth Short Title MAD TOY Publisher Duke University Press Language English ISBN-10 0822329409 ISBN-13 9780822329404 Media Book Format Paperback Year 2002 Imprint Duke University Press Place of Publication North Carolina Country of Publication United States Translated from Spanish DOI 10.1604/9780822329404 UK Release Date 2002-07-18 AU Release Date 2002-07-18 NZ Release Date 2002-07-18 US Release Date 2002-07-18 Pages 184 Translator Michele Aynesworth Publication Date 2002-07-18 Alternative 9780822329114 DEWEY 863 Audience Professional & Vocational We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:131532521;

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