Stories from Puerto Rico
by Robert Muckley, Adela Martinez-Santiago

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Book Reviews of Stories from Puerto Rico

Book Review: Puerto Rico's Tales & Legends in One Book
Summary: 5 Stars

(1) Creation {Pre-Colombian tale}: Discusses the Taino Indians (original island inhabitants) belief on how their gods created the Antilles.

(2) The Death of Salcedo {1511}: True-life tale of the murder of a Spanish conquistador by the Tainos, who wanted to determine whether or not he was a god. The drowning of this man in an island river helped the natives realize that the Spaniards were not from heaven.

(3) Guanina {1511}: A legend similar to a Puerto Rican version of Romeo & Juliet. Spanish conquistador-Taina love story ending in tragedy.

(4) The Miracles of Our Lady of Monserrate {1600}: The apparition of the Virgin in the town of Hormigueros caused many to build a shrine in her honor. Similar to the apparition of the Virgin in Lourdes and Fatima, this one was different because it involved the image of the Virgin of Monserrate, the black virgin who is the patron saint of Catalonia (Spain).

(5) The Snake's Curve {1700}: a legend involving a witch's curse that turned a woman from the town of Guayama into a snake.

(6) The Devil's Sentry Box {1790}: A legend that took place in San Juan involving the disappearances of several Spanish soldiers guarding the city from a Sentry House near San Cristobal Castle.

(7) & (8) Cofresi, Parts I & II {1824}: A tale of a Puerto Rican "Robin Hood". The tale is divided into two chapters.

(9) Carabali {1830}: An account of a slave fleeing from Spanish slavery.

(10) Lola de America {1858}: The life of Lola Rodriguez de Tio, one of Puerto Rico's most famous poets, and the author of the island's national anthem..

(11) Elena of the Holy Mountain (1900): The apparition of this ghostly figure in the town of San Lorenzo uses warns people of an impending storm.

(12) Esperanza (1910): The legend revolving a statue of a dog on a San Juan beach.

(13) Guayama, Witch City (1940): A report on witchcraft activities in the town of Guayama.

(14) The Miraculous Well (1953): The reported sighting of the Virgin Mary in the town of Sabana Grande, who appeared to a group of schoolchildren to tell them that the water from a well would have miraculous healing powers.

(15) The Specter (1970): The reported sightings of a ghost in the town of Patillas.

(16) Extraterrestrials (1975): Actual accounts of alien and UFO encounters throughout the island.

The final section of the book contains the popular folklore tales of Foolish Jack" ("Juan Bobo) and "Friend Rabbit" ("Compadre Conejillo"), which are well-known throughout the island. The author also includes a brief history of the island's original inhabitants, the Tainos, as well as a bilingual Spanish-English dictionary for reference. This book makes an excellent book for anyone interested in Puerto Rican culture and/or who wants to learn either Spanish or English using side-by-side texts. The author has done a great job of capturing most of the island's tales all in one book!

Summary of Stories from Puerto Rico

Dive into the tales of Puerto Rico--in Spanish and in English!

In Stories from Spain/Historias de Puerto Rico, we've placed the Spanish and English stories side by side--lado a lado--so you can practice and improve your reading skills in your new language while enjoying the support of your native language. This way, you'll avoid the inconvenience of constantly having to look up unfamiliar words and expressions in a dictionary. Read as much as you can understand, and then look to the facing page for help. As you read, you can check your comprehension by comparing the two versions of the story. You'll also find a bilingual vocabulary list at the end of the book, so you'll have a handy reference for new words.

Stories from Spain/Historias de Puerto Rico allows you to explore the island's rich history. It includes 18 well-known Puerto Rican legends that stretch from the dawn of creation to the twentieth century. These tales will introduce you to an array of characters as dynamic and colorful as the country that gave birth to them. Animals, indigenous peoples, conquistadors, spiritual beings, and extraterrestrials are among those who will make these pages come alive for you! As you read these stories side by side, you will be not only fine-tuning your language skills but also gaining insight into the rich cultural heritage of the Puerto Rican people.

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