"The Balcony" - A Short Story by Felisberto Hernández - Copyright 1993, 2014 by the Heirs of Felisberto Hernández Translation copyright 1993 by Luis Harss Preface copyright 1974 by Italo Calvino Copyright © 1993, 2014 by the Heirs of Felisberto Hernández Translation copyright 1993 by Luis Harss Preface copyright 1974 by Italo Calvino, Introduction by Francine Prose 2014 - Piano Stories published in 2014 by New Directions Press

"The Balcony" - A Short Story by Felisberto Hernández - Copyright 1993, 2014 by the Heirs of Felisberto Hernández Translation copyright 1993 by Luis Harss Preface copyright 1974 by Italo Calvino Copyright © 1993, 2014 by the Heirs of Felisberto Hernández Translation copyright 1993 by Luis Harss Preface copyright 1974 by Italo Calvino, Introduction by Francine Prose 2014 - Piano Stories published in 2014 by New Directions Press

Available at the New York City Public Library 

Felisberto Hernandez

Born: October 20, 1902, Montevideo, Uruguay

Died: January 13, 1964 (age 61 years), Montevideo, Uruguay

Nationality: Uruguayan

 "Afterward I went out to buy a book suitable for reading in an abandoned house among weeds, on a still night and a full stomach."

I am very glad to be able to start 2025 with a new to me writer I wish to read in full, Felisberto Hernández,  

As detailed in the introduction Hernández made his living giving piano concerts, traveling about with no fixed home.  The leaders character and speaker in "The Balcony" after a concert is approached by an old man who invites him home to have dinner with his daughter, who has a fear of going outside.

"“She has her own way of keeping entertained. I bought an old house, too big for just the two of us, but it’s in good shape. It has a garden with a fountain and in her bedroom there’s a door that opens onto a winter balcony. It’s a corner room, facing the street, and you could almost say she lives in that balcony. Or sometimes she goes for a walk in the garden and on some nights she plays the piano. You can come and have dinner with us whenever you want and I’ll be grateful to you.” I understood at once. So we agreed on a day when I would go for dinner and play the piano."

He becomes very involved with the man and the daughter.

"There was sorrow in the girl’s laughter, but she begged me to go on telling my stories. Her mouth had stretched at the edges, into a painful gash. Her eyes, caught in their web of “crow’s feet,” were full of tears, and she was pressing her clasped hands between her knees. The old man was coughing so hard he had to put down the pitcher before filling his glass. The dwarf laughed, bending over as if to bow. We had all been miraculously united and I felt not the least regret."

Who is the dwarf you ask, read this so magical story to find out.

There are 10 other works in Piano Stories,  we will return to it.