“Paso del Norte” is a story by Juan Rulfo published in 1953 in the El llano en llamas collection. It tells of a man’s determination to abandon his impoverished life in Mexico to seek better opportunities in El Norte. Despite the risks and family opposition, his desperation to escape misery drives him to set out on a dangerous journey, symbolizing the universal struggle for survival and the search for a dignified life.
The Last Summer (El último verano) is a short story by Amparo Dávila, published in 1977 in the book Árboles petrificados (Petrified Trees). It tells of the anguish of a middle-aged woman who, after having raised six children and feeling the wear and tear of the years, unexpectedly discovers that she is pregnant again. Far from joyfully receiving the news, she experiences a deep despair as her body and spirit are exhausted. As the sweltering summer progresses, her fatigue and sense of confinement intensify, plunging her into growing hopelessness. Soon, her everyday world begins to turn into a nightmare.
They Have Given Us the Land (Nos han dado la tierra), a story by Juan Rulfo published in El llano en llamas in 1953, narrates the journey of four peasants walking under a scorching sun after receiving land from the government. Across an arid and desolate landscape, the story shows their tiredness, silence, and uncertainty about the future that awaits them. With simple prose, Rulfo portrays the harshness of the countryside and the frustration of those who the system has forgotten. The story, full of symbolism and social criticism, exposes the silent struggle of the dispossessed in an unjust world.
They Have Given Us the Land (Nos han dado la tierra), a story by Juan Rulfo published in the magazine Pan in 1945, narrates the march of a group of peasants who are going to take possession of some land given to them by the government. Walking under a relentless sun, they reflect on the uselessness of the land assigned to them, where no seed can grow. The story describes their struggle and resignation in an inhospitable environment and the lack of hope for the future.
Discover the best stories by Juan Rulfo, master of magical realism and Mexican literature. Explore unforgettable tales such as They Have Given Us the Land and Luvina, where loneliness, death and destiny come to life. Read his complete stories and immerse yourself in his literary universe.
In “Luvina,” a story by Juan Rulfo, a man recounts his experience in a desolate village where nature and abandonment seem to have condemned its inhabitants to resignation and poverty. Through his memories, he describes an arid place lashed by a constant wind, where life seems to stand still and dreams fade away. Luvina is more than a physical space; it symbolizes helplessness and resistance to adversity. As he warns his interlocutor about what awaits him in that place, the narrator reveals how his time in Luvina transformed his illusions into disenchantment, offering a powerful portrait of the human struggle against destiny.