Realism | Lecturia

Jack London: To Build a Fire (Early Version)

To Build a Fire is a short story by Jack London, published in May 1902 in The Youth’s Companion. It tells the story of Tom Vincent’s solitary journey through the frozen landscape of the Yukon in the middle of winter. Confident in his strength and experience, the protagonist ignores the warnings about the dangers of traveling alone. However, the extreme cold soon reveals itself as a ruthless enemy, and what seems like a routine journey becomes a desperate struggle for survival. This is the story’s first version, which London would rewrite and publish under the same title in 1908.

Julio Ramón Ribeyro: The Featherless Buzzards

“The Featherless Buzzards,” a short story by the Peruvian writer Julio Ramón Ribeyro, tells the story of two brothers, Efraín and Enrique, who live with their grandfather, Don Santos, and a pig called Pascual. The children are forced to collect garbage in the streets of Lima to feed the animal. The plot revolves around the brothers’ daily struggle to survive in an environment of extreme poverty and abuse at the hands of their grandfather. It is a story that reflects the harsh reality of the marginalized in an indifferent society.

Jack London: The Mexican

The Mexican, a short story by Jack London, published on August 19, 1911, in The Saturday Evening Post, narrates the arrival of Felipe Rivera to a revolutionary cell fighting against the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz in Mexico. At first, Rivera, an enigmatic, reserved young man with an implacable look, generates distrust among the veterans, who relegate him to the most humble and degrading tasks. However, his unwavering dedication to the cause soon becomes evident. Rivera, marked by a mysterious past, seems willing to sacrifice to contribute to the revolutionary dream.

Guy de Maupassant: The Dowry

“The Dowry” (La dot) is a short story by Guy de Maupassant published on September 9, 1884, in Gil Blas. It tells the story of Simon Lebrumet, a notary, who marries the young Jeanne Cordier in the village of Boutigny-le-Revours. Their marriage comes as no surprise to anyone, as Lebrumet needs money to buy a notary’s office and Jeanne has a considerable dowry. He is a pleasant man and she is an attractive woman, albeit somewhat provincial. The first days of their marriage are filled with sweetness and passion, and Lebrumet proves to be a tender and delicate husband. To enjoy their honeymoon, the couple plans to travel to Paris; however, a curious situation alters their plans.

Jorge Luis Borges: Emma Zunz

“Emma Zunz,” a short story by Jorge Luis Borges published in the book El Aleph (1949), tells the story of Emma, a young textile factory worker. Emma receives the news that her father, who was living far away after being unjustly accused of theft, has died due to an overdose of veronal. Grief-stricken and convinced that she knows the culprit behind her father’s misfortune, Emma embarks on a meticulous plan of revenge to restore her father’s honor.

F. Scott Fitzgerald: Pat Hobby’s Christmas Wish

“Pat Hobby’s Christmas Wish” is a short story by Francis Scott Fitzgerald, published in Esquire in January 1940. The story follows Pat Hobby, a mediocre and declining screenwriter, trapped in the Hollywood studio grind and forced to work on Christmas Eve. His bitter existence takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of Helen Kagle, his new secretary, who, barely settled in, bursts into tears, leaving Pat bewildered. In trying to console her, Pat discovers that Helen is keeping a secret about a top studio executive and a letter that could change, perhaps forever, their fortunes.