Movieland
Ramón Gómez de la Serna
January 17, 2022
ISBN 9780578336817 Paperback / 192 pages / $13.99
First-ever new edition of the 1930 English translation of proto-surrealist Ramón Gómez de la Serna's 1923 Spanish novel Cinélandia. According to translator Angel Flores, Movieland "deals with an ideal Hollywood, with a Hollywood more amazing, if that were possible, than the one we know."
"Brilliant satiric fantasy."
Sioux City Journal
"As a baroque and flippant literary antic . . . the novel is thoroughly satisfactory."
New York Times
"For a man who has never been in Hollywood, not even the U.S.A., Ramón did well, uncommonly so, by the allegedly fictitious characters of his opus. Each chapter, almost each paragraph, is a complete sparkling little jewel in itself. Synthesized, they become equally sparkling, witty, cynical yet refreshing facets of a larger gem."
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
"The charming thing about Movieland is not the subject matter, but Ramón's manner of expression. He has a style that is simple and artistic, a directness and an audacious frankness in matters that Americans have been inclined to prohibit from discussion as they today ban alcohol from festive drinks. . . . Movieland is not for general consumption and probably never will be popular. But it is delightfully written, and its interpretation into the English language is unusually well done."
Sacramento Bee
"The book is a delightful picture of villains, heroes and beauties as the author seems to think they exist in the minds of Americans."
South Bend Tribune