La Increible y Triste Historia de la Candida Erendira y de su Abuela Desalmada

Mexico: Editorial Hermes, 1972 First Mexican Edition. Presentation copy; signed and inscribed by author on front free endpaper: “Par / Marle of Francesc, / bel amigo / Gabriel [underlined] / 91”. Publisher's pictorial paper wrappers, with illustrations of jellyfish and starfish to the panels, lettered in black; very good book with a small patch of rubbing to front wrapper, light surface wear to front joint, a bit of soiling to rear inside cover flap, and a tiny spot of dampstaining to top edge of text block. Overall, an excellent copy, very scarce signed. This collection of short stories features the novella La Increible y Triste Historia de la Candida Erendira y de su Abuela Desalmada (The Incredibly Sad Story of Innocent Eréndira and Her Heartless Grandmother), which tells the story of a young Latina girl who accidentally sets her house on fire, leaving her and her grandmother homeless. In spiteful retaliation, the grandmother forces Eréndira to work as a prostitute while they roam the Colombian countryside. Both Eréndira and her grandmother play minor roles in Márquez's 1967 novel Cien años de soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude). Interestingly, Márquez originally wrote "Innocent Eréndira" as a screenplay, but published the story in novella format instead. . Signed by Author. First Edition. Very Good.