A new, expanded e-book edition of the book that The New York Times Book Review described as a “frequently powerful collection of short stories” of Latin America that “leaves us thoroughly wrung out — and aware that we are in the presence of a formidable new writer.”

I found it hard to believe that such a goofy film as “Gladiator” could be nominated for so many Academy Awards. Or that anybody thought that what Russell Crowe was doing in the film was “acting.” But the movie did have one great virtue for me: it made me look up the real history of Emperor Commodus, Lucilla and the gladiators. (From Themestream, March 24, 2001)