El llano en llamas

Juan Rulfo (1917–1986), from Jalisco, published only two major books — the short-story collection El llano en llamas (1953) and the novel Pedro Páramo (1955) — yet became one of the most influential writers in the Spanish language. His spare, haunting portraits of rural Mexico after the Revolution helped pave the way for Latin American magical realism.

Don’t mix up the two titles: El llano en llamas is his book of short stories, while Pedro Páramo is his novel.