Rosendo's Tale by Jorge Luis Borges
The narrative revolves around a man who recounts his life story to a stranger. The tale is presented as a series of events that unfold over several decades, with the protagonist's identity and motivations gradually revealed through his account.
By Jorge Luis Borges · First published 1926 · Genre: Crime, Drama, Historical Fiction · 2,875 words
First lines
It was about eleven o'clock at night; I had entered the old grocery store-bar (which today is just a plain bar) at the corner of Bolívar and Venezuela. From off on one side a man signaled me with a "psst. " There must have been something forceful in his manner because I heeded him at once. He was seated at one of the small tables in front of an empty glass, and I somehow felt he had been sitting there for a long time. Neither short nor tall, he had the appearance of a common working man or maybe an old farmhand. His thin moustache was graying. Fearful of his health, like most people in Buenos Aires, he had not taken off the scarf that draped his shoulders. He asked me to have a drink with him. I sat down and we chatted. All this took place sometime back in the early thirties. This is what the man told me.
What this Textopian page supports
Rosendo's Tale is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, dated 1926 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Jorge Luis Borges
- Date: 1926 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Crime, Drama, Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 2,875 words
- Structure: 1 section, 38 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Rosendo's Tale by Jorge Luis Borges
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Rosendo's Tale?
- How does this short story by Jorge Luis Borges fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Crime first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Crime — The narrative revolves around a murder and the protagonist's involvement in criminal activities, including knife fights and political strong-arming.
- Drama — The story explores intense personal conflicts, moral dilemmas, and the protagonist's internal struggle with his past actions and identity.
- Historical Fiction — Set in early 20th-century Buenos Aires, the story reflects the social and political climate of the time, including references to historical events and figures.
- Psychological Fiction — The protagonist's introspection and the exploration of his motivations and emotions are central to the narrative.
Tags
Philosophical Fiction · Short Story Collection · Literary Experimentation · Metafiction · Existentialism · Absurdism · South American Literature · Magical Realism · Fictional Biography · Biographical Fiction · Autobiographical Elements · Memory and Identity