Don Segundo Sombra

Ricardo Güiraldes (1886-1927) is one of the maximum exponents of “Criollismo.” Born in Buenos Aires but raised near the life of the gaucho, Güiraldes sought a literary language capable of expressing the essential values of his country.

Inspired by Don Segundo Ramírez, a real resero, the novel serves as a bridge between the vanishing era of the gaucho and the modern search for Argentine identity. Unlike Martín Fierro, which exalts the extinguished gaucho through protest, Don Segundo Sombra structures itself as a lesson learned from inexperience—covering work, morality, and rural skills (doma, rodeo)—becoming an example of “lo argentino.”

Stockcero's Edition: To facilitate reading for modern students and scholars, this edition includes extensive lexicographical notes derived from a careful research process. We have consulted critical texts and glossaries from Tiscornia, Leumann, Lugones, and the critical edition by Elida Lois and Angel Nuñez, among others. These notes ensure that the specific and precise rural lexicon is accessible.