The Better to See You

John Walker is a professor of Spanish studies at Queen’s University.

Like other countries in Central America, El Salvador has suffered
greatly in the last few decades in the face of endemic internal warfare.
To combat state-sponsored terrorism, citizens have retaliated, in the
name of justice and freedom, only to be met by further violence
orchestrated by the military.

The 16 stories in this collection powerfully capture the hopes and
dreams, the resistance and courage of the Salvadorean people as they
confront unspeakable cruelty. We experience the brutality of the
military as we listen to the voices of the various
protagonists—guerrilleros, basketball players, union officials,
printers, students, prostitutes, children, and others. More than a mere
document of social protest, The Better to See You is a significant
artistic achievement. Hugh Hazelton’s translation is pleasingly
unobtrusive.