The rest is jungle and other stories / Mario Benedetti ; translated from the Spanish by Harry Morales

Presentiment -- The sweethearts -- The rain and the fungi -- Innocence -- The upper footpath -- Such friends -- The collection -- The cups -- Listening to Mozart -- The budget -- The venetian blinds -- Surprise and pity -- Completely absent-minded -- The air is good here -- Guardian, more or less -- The rage has ended -- Long distance -- That mouth -- Translations -- Lunch and doubts -- A watch with Roman numerals -- Forgotten memories -- War and peace -- The Iriarte family -- Chat -- No surrender -- Portrait of Elisa -- Nineteen -- Lead us into -- Towards imagery and similarity -- Answering machine -- Alter ego -- The firemen -- Muzak -- He dreamed he was in prison -- The expression -- Pendulum -- For objects only -- There is no shadow in the mirror -- Death -- The big switch -- Assault at night -- Every day is Sunday -- The end of dyspnea -- The rest is jungle.

Mario Benedetti affords us a beguiling glimpse of a world in flux. Addressing subjects ranging from love and middle-class frustration in the city to the pain of exile, the stories in The Rest is Jungle transport the reader from the cafes of Montevideo to the fault lines that divide nations and people. Whether poking fun at the pretentions of the contemporary literary scene, or offering a moving portrait of multi-generational family life, Benedetti discerns the irony, humor and heartbreak in every situation. From the hilarious depiction of an office worker battling with bureaucracy, to a domestic tragedy recounted from the perspective of an eavesdropping family pet, the stories in this playful and provocative collection throw light on that curious realm where our public and private lives intersect. The Rest is Jungle is a remarkable showcase for the work of a writer who sought to speak of love, power and commitment as directly and passionately as possible.

Translated from Spanish to English.