Aura

( Spanish - Aura - 1962 )

short novel by Carlos Fuentes

translated by Lysander Kemp

Published: Farrar, Straus & Giroux - hardback - 1965
ISBN: none

Farrar, Straus & Giroux - paperback - 1975 ( rep. 1986 ) ( bilingual edition )
0374511713 / 9780374511715

Andre Deutsch - hardback - 1990
ISBN: 0233984704 / 9780233984704

Andre Deutsch - trade paperback - 1990
ISBN: 023398562X / 9780233985626

contained in The Slaying of the Dragon

Harcourt Brace - hardback - 1984
ISBN: 0151829756 / 9780151829750

and 'Foundations of Fear' ( anthology )

Tor - hardback - 1992
0312850743 / 9780312850746

BOMC - hardback - 1992
ISBN: none

QPBC - trade paperback - 1993
ISBN: none

and 'Worlds of Fear' ( anthology )

Tor - paperback - 1994
0812550021 / 9780812550023



synopsis
Felipe Montero, a young historian, accepts a live-in position editing the memoirs of General Llorente, which the elderly widow (Consuelo) wants published before her own death. Intoxicated by the airless atmosphere of the house, Felipe begins dreaming of having sex and escaping with Consuelo's young beautiful niece, Aura. As he reads the General's writings, he makes some discoveries surrounding Consuelo's infertility, her fantasy of having a child, and her obsession with youth only to realize that Aura is actually a projection of the 109-year-old widow. One night, while he embraces her, Aura turns into the old woman. Felipe then takes on the role of the General, coupled with Consuelo, to give birth to 'Aura', who epitomizes youth and the illusion of life.

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