The works of Julio Escoto comprise one of the most vital segments of Honduran fiction during the last three decades of the twentieth century. His novels and short stories have been a regular focus of attention for critics and have inspired countless young writers. Living in a country that continues to be wracked with political, economic, and class turmoil, Escoto consistently proposes through his writings that changes in society begin with changes in individuals. His work reveals the two sides--constructive and destructive--of human nature. Through a variety of techniques, themes, voices, characters, periods, and events, Escoto's writings continually explore the question of identity--of the individual Honduran, of Honduras as a nation, and of Hondurans as Latin Americans. Identity to Escoto is not an abstract concept but a journey that must be made with courage and honesty, a quest in which the seeker must be prepared to confront and...