Hernando Téllez
Hernando Téllez (22 March 1908 - 1966). Born and educated in Bogotá, Colombia, Téllez entered very early the world of journalism with which he is primarily identified having been on the staff of some of Colombia's most popular newspapers and magazines. It was not until 1950 with the publication of his short-story collection Cenizas para el viento, that his name became more widely known. His tragicomic tales evidence the keen and extremely sensitive observer of contemporary life and more particularly of the anguishing reality of his native country. During Téllez's lifetime, Colombia suffered through several civil wars and military dictatorships, collectively called La Violencia (The Violence). Téllez was also a student of history and was aware of the three rebellions of the 19th century, which caused the country of Gran Colombia to be divided into the separate countries of Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. Téllez served in the Colombian Parliament and was later Colombia's ambassador to the United Nations.
Possibly the most famous work by Téllez was his short story Espuma y nada más (Lather and Nothing Else). The story is widely read amongst American high school Spanish students, and depicts the inner conflict of a barber who is shaving the captain of a military unit which has tracked, imprisoned and killed some of his comrades. The barber vacillates between thoughts of slitting the captain's throat with his razor and giving him the expert shave for which he is known. In the end the barber decides he does not want to be stained in blood, but only in soap lather or "espuma y nada más". As the captain leaves he reveals that he heard that the barber would kill him and his visit was to see if this was true.
Stories
- Espuma y nada más (Lather and Nothing Else)
- Ashes for the Wind and Other Stories[1]