Alejandro Morales is a pioneer of Chicana and Chicano literature and the author of groundbreaking works including The Brick People, The Rag Doll Plagues, and River of Angels. His work, often experimental, was one of the first to depict harsh urban realities in the barrios—a break from much of the Chicana and Chicano fiction that had been published previously. Morales’ relentless work has grown over the decades into a veritable menagerie of cultural testimonies, fantastic counter-histories, magical realism, challenging meta-narratives, and flesh-and-blood aesthetic innovation. The fourteen essays included in this compendium examine Morales’ novels and short stories. The editors also include a critical introduction; an interview between Morales, the editors, and fellow author Daniel Olivas; and a new comprehensive bibliography of Morales’ writings and works about him—books, articles, book reviews, online resources, and dissertations. A Critical Collection on Alejandro Morales: Forging an Alternative Chicano Fiction is a must-read for understanding and appreciating Morales’ work in particular and Chicana and Chicano literature in general.
THE EDITORS
Marc García-Martínez is a professor of English at Allan Hancock College and a lecturer of Chicana/o studies at UC–Santa Barbara. He is the author of The Flesh-and-Blood Aesthetics of Alejandro Morales: Disease, Sex, and Figuration.
Francisco A. Lomelí is a professor emeritus of Chicana/o studies and Spanish and Portuguese at UC–Santa Barbara. He is the author, coauthor, and coeditor of forty books, including a landmark translation of Alejandro Morales’ Barrio on the Edge and Aztlán: Essays on the Chicano Homeland (UNM Press).
ACCLAIM
“This landmark collection of critical essays analyzes Alejandro Morales’ works throughout the vast scope of his literary career and fully reveals the genius and the aesthetic and intellectual significance of his prolific contributions to US literature and culture broadly and Chicana and Chicano literature and culture more specifically. This volume gives Morales’ work the prominent place it deserves in US literary history.”
—Timothy R. Libretti, contributor to Writer in Exile/Writer in Revolt: Critical Perspectives on Carlos Bulosan
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In other news, I continue to explore my new literary endeavor: playwriting. I recently had the chance to discuss this topic in the podcast called Beckett’s Babies where I was interviewed about playwriting, creating Chicanx characters, becoming a writer without an MFA, and more. The hosts, Sam Collier and Sarah Cho, are accomplished playwrights who met at the Iowa Playwrights Workshop. Have a listen! Also, if you want to read my plays, they are on New Play Exchange. I am in the process of working with three theaters on two staged readings and one full-stage production of my plays…more news soon.