Written with compassionate realism and wit, the stories in this mesmerizing collection depict the disparities of town and village life in South America, of the frightfully poor and outrageously rich, of memories and illusions, and of lost opportunities and present joys.

Stories within this collection include “No One Writes to the Colonel,” “Tuesday Siesta,” “One of These Days,” “There Are No Thieves in This Town,” “Balthazar's Marvelous Afternoon,” “Montiel's Widow,” “One Day after Saturday,” “Artificial Roses,” and “Big Mama's Funeral.”