Begun in 1939, barely four months after the close of the Spanish Civil War, these poems by the Nobel Laureate poet Vicente Aleixandre were written during a period of hardship and despair. In spite of his surroundings Aleixandre created the splendor of the shadow of a lost paradise that consisted of memory, nostalgia, yearning and illusion. This is the first full English version. The original Spanish text is included.

First and foremost THE COUNTESS is a book of humor. Yet it reflects a style and wit long since missing in today's dark world. While a fictional character, the Countess is drawn from the women we have known and been fascinated by for decades. Flamboyant women, who lived large and uninhibited. The Barbara Hutton's, Helena Rubinstein's and Tallulah Bankhead's come easily to mind. Outrageous and outspoken, the Countess utilizes Dorothy Parker-esque wit and innuendo to skewer her foes and reward the reader with sly chuckles and laugh-out-loud joy. There could be no Auntie Mame without the grand...