Selected Poems (Penguin Modern Classics)

Throughout the numerous biographical volumes I have read relating to Borges, his poetry was mentioned to varying degrees; some emphasizing his self-conception as a poet first and foremost, others making nothing more than brief reference to his poetry. At last I have found an excellent volume compiling- I think- nearly all his poetic works, and as any fan of the master would expect, they are magical. His use of original imagery, the clarity with which he constructs his world, are, as always, a joy to observe. The fact that the book includes the original Spanish versions adds to the value of the compilation; although I cannot understand Spanish, the sense of how Borges constructed each piece is made transparent to the reader and adds, if not to their comprehension, to their satisfaction at watching Borges at work. Nothing more needs to be said of this superlative collection of an often-ignored facet of one of the greatest writers of his time.