Esta nueva y emocionante antologi a reu ne cuentos populares puertorriquen os que fueron transmitidos oralmente durante generaciones antes de ser finalmente transcritos comenzando en 1914 por el equipo del famoso antropo logo Franz Boas. Estos encantadores cuentos ofrecen a los lectores un vistazo a la imaginacio n y las aspiraciones de los ji baros, los campesinos de Puerto Rico. Algunas historias brindan un distintivo toque cariben o a cuentos cla sicos como "Blanca Nieves" y "Cenicienta". Otros ficcionalizan la vida de personajes histo ricos locales, como el famoso pirata Roberto Cofresi , representado como una figura al estilo de Robin Hood, quien subvierte el orden social colonial. La coleccio n tambie n presenta personajes locales tan queridos como Cucarachita Martina, la amable cucaracha que se enamora de Ratoncito Pe rez, su devoto esposo rato n que le trae deliciosa comida. Incluyendo una nueva traduccio n al ingle s de estos cuentos populares, asi como las versiones originales en espan ol, la coleccio n tambie n contiene una introduccio n del historiador literario Rafael Ocasio, quien destaca la importancia histo rica de estos cuentos y los valores culturales del ji baro que e stos imparten en los relatos. Estas historias vibrantes, divertidas y conmovedoras brindara n a los lectores una visio n u nica de la rica herencia cultural de Puerto Rico. "Beginning in 1913, curious U.S. scientists eagerly performed field research in the new American colony of Puerto Rico, studying its geology, archaeology, botany, and zoology. Under the direction of anthropologist and folklorist Franz Boas, the project also included the documentation of hundreds of oral folk stories told through generations, highlighting popular Puerto Rican characters immersed in the island's social and cultural practices of the peasant, or Ji baro. Characters from international fairy tales, such as Snow White and Cinderella, were modified to fit Puerto Rican surroundings in exciting, unique adaptations. Other tales included cursed characters turned into animals, or stories that reflected a strong connection to Ji baro agrarian traditions. Characters like Juan Bobo stand out even today as personifications of the universal traits of human resilience ascribed to the Puerto Rican Ji baro. Folk legends of historical characters, such as the infamous Puerto Rican pirate Roberto Cofresi , reflect the island's colonial status, including the economic restrictions that led to his rise as a notorious thief. Finally, no anthology of Puerto Rican oral folklore would be complete without a few versions of Cucarachita Martina, the kind cockroach who falls in love with Ratoncito Pe rez, her beloved mouse husband. Whether you are encountering these stories for the first time, or have heard them your whole life, this delightful bilingual collection will be sure to tickle your heart and your funny bone, and leave you fascinated once again with the island of Puerto Rico"--