Blasco Ibanez was a hugely prolific writer. Aside from the novels he authored, he left several volumes of short stories and at least one play. Depending on their date of composition, these stories tend to resemble — both stylistically and thematically — the longer fiction written by Blasco. The collection of short stories entitled La condenada (1900), for example, belongs to the Valencian cycle. The main characters are poor, local types struggling to survive in a harsh social and economic environment. Luna Benamor (1919; original in Spanish, 1909), is perhaps the most famous of Blasco's short fiction volumes. The lead story of the collection, from which the book takes its name, revolves around the fortunes of star-crossed lovers unable to consummate their relationship because of religious differences. It is reminiscent of The Torrent. The story takes place in North Africa, a locale chosen after Blasco visited the area. As...