Augusto Monterroso’s Papers To Go to Princeton

By Aída Bardales -- Críticas, 6/15/2006

Princeton University has announced its acquisition of Augusto Monterroso’s (1921-2003) letters, manuscripts, diaries, photographs, and other original documents. The writer, regarded as a significant figure in Latin America, was the winner of many prominent Spanish-language literary awards, including the Juan Rulfo and Príncipe de Asturias. The correspondence will offer a panorama of his literary career and of Latin American intellect during his lifetime.

The Guatemalan author was born in Honduras but lived most of life in Mexico. Mostly known for his essays and short stories, he is recognized as the author of the world’s shortest short story, El Dinosaurio (The Dinosaur), which reads: "Cuando despertó, el dinosaurio todavía estaba allí." (“When it woke up, the dinosaur was still there.") His literary works also include Obras completas (y otros cuentos) [Complete Works (and Other Stories), 1959]; La oveja negra y demás fábulas (The Black Sheep and other Fables, 1969); and La palabra mágica (The Magic Word, 1983). Monterroso’s papers will add to Princeton’s Spanish-language collection, which already contains the papers of several key Latin American writers including Mario Vargas Llosa and Juan García Ponce. The collection is targeted to be available for public use in the fall.