This book analyzes the role of the theatrical simpleton in the pasos of the sixteenth-century playwright Lupe de Rueda, in Mario Moreno’s character “Cantinflas,” and in the esquirol of the 1960s Actos of the Teatro Campesino. Spanning multiple regions and time periods, this book fills an important void in Spanish and theatrical studies.

The skies of Oxford are aflame with meteors the night Edgar Jones comes into the world–clearly this porter’s son, born in a small cottage in 1847, is no ordinary boy. While his mother is apprehensive about her restless, inquisitive child, Edgar’s father believes without a doubt that his son is destined for greatness. As the years pass, it becomes apparent that Edgar has a unique talent: He is a born inventor, and his gift for making is matched by a fierce will. Edgar turns his back on the scholarly life his father had intended for him and apprentices himself to a blacksmith. It is not long before his ingenuity and metalworking skills bring him to the attention of a maverick professor at Oxford University, a bone collector with plans for a museum of natural history. Finally, Edgar has the opportunity to showcase the singular gifts he’s learned in the hazardous soot and heat of the forge. But his great ability also becomes a curse, and his prominence is fraught with danger–both for him and for his family. Set at the dramatic midpoint of the nineteenth century, in a world on the cusp of change, The Ingenious Edgar Jones is an unforgettable coming-of-age story about the complexities of family life and the journey of one young man as he finds his place in a rapidly shifting world.

In the 1930s, anarchists and socialists among Spanish immigrants living in the United States created España Libre (Free Spain) as a response to the Nationalist takeover in their homeland. Worker-oriented and avowedly antifascist, the grassroots periodical raised money for refugees and political prisoners while advancing left-wing culture and politics. España Libre proved both visionary and durable, charting an alternate path toward a modern Spain and enduring until democracy's return to the country in 1977. Montse Feu merges España Libre's story with the drama of the Spanish immigrant community's fight against fascism. The periodical emerged as part of a transnational effort to link migrants and new exiles living in the United States to antifascist networks abroad. In addition to showing how workers' culture and politics shaped their antifascism, Feu brings to light creative works that ranged from literature to satire to cartoons to theater. As España Libre opened up radical practices, it encouraged allies to reject violence in favor of social revolution's potential for joy and inclusion.

Carolyn Wells's The Technique of the Mystery Story gets to the heart of a craft she defined despite coming to it late in her career. Wells offers a valuable framework for writers looking to follow in her footsteps or readers looking for access to the mind and process of a woman revered in her field, exploring the history of the genre, defining its many different forms, and illuminating the stylistic choices that keep a mystery tale running smoothly. This work begins with an argument for mystery as a legitimate literary art form, supported by numerous quotations from authorities. Then, moving through her topics in a systematic manner, she explains and illustrates the mystery-writing craft with excerpts from mystery works and quotations from literary critics and notable authors. This is essentially a mini-course in mystery story creative writing.

A contemporary philosopher of Tunisian origin, Mehdi Belhaj Kacem is here published in English for the first time. His new book, Transgression and the Inexistent: A Philosophical Vocabulary, is a comprehensive foray into Kacem's elaborate philosophical system in twenty-seven discreet chapters, each dedicated to a single concept. In each chapter, he explicates a critical re-thinking of ordinary lived experiences - such as desire, irony, play - or traditional philosophical ideas – such as catharsis, mimesis, techne – in light of 'the spirit of nihilism' that marks the contemporary human condition. Kacem gained notoriety in the domain of critical theory amid his controversial break with his mentor and leading contemporary philosopher, Alain Badiou. Transgression and the Inexistent lays out the essential concepts of his philosophical system: it is the most complete and synthetic book of his philosophical work, as well as being one of the most provocative in its claims. As a Francophone author engaging with contemporary world thought, he is able to develop novel philosophical perspectives that reach beyond the Middle East or the Continental, and the East/West binary. This is the book's first publication in any language, constituting a much-awaited first translation of Kacem into English.

The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe is a collection of eerie and macabre tales that showcase Poe's mastery of the Gothic genre. Filled with themes of death, madness, and the supernatural, the stories are characterized by their intense psychological depth and atmosphere of suspense. Poe's writing style is characterized by its use of symbolism, vivid imagery, and intricate wordplay, making his works both engaging and thought-provoking. This collection includes famous works such as 'The Tell-Tale Heart' and 'The Raven', making it a must-read for fans of Gothic literature. Edgar Allan Poe's influence on the horror genre is undeniable, and his works continue to captivate readers to this day. Known for his tragic life and mysterious death, Poe's personal experiences undoubtedly informed the dark and haunting narratives found in his writing. The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe is a timeless collection that will appeal to anyone with a taste for the macabre and a love for expertly crafted storytelling.