Explores Borges's supreme literary craftsmanship and the intimate puzzles of his fictions. Borges once stated that he had never created a character: 'It's always me, subtly disguised'. This book focuses on the ways in which Borges uses events and experiences from his own life, in order to demonstrate how they become the principal structuring motifs of his work. It aims to show how these experiences, despite being 'heavily disguised', are crucial components of some of Borges's most canonical short stories, particularly from the famous collections Ficciones and El Aleph. Exploring the rich tapestry of symmetries, doubles and allusions and the roles played by translation and the figure of the creator, the book provides new readings of these stories, revealing their hidden personal, emotional and spiritual dimensions. These insights shed fresh light on Borges's supreme literary craftsmanship and the intimate puzzles of his fictions.

"Stephens's hypothesis is tantalizing not in spite of its simplicity, but precisely because of it. For a writer so famed for his cosmopolitan erudition, what could be more counterintuitive - and indeed more refreshing - than locating within the "intellectually dense structure" of Borges's oeuvre "hidden personal gems ... an emotionally intimate expression"?" - TLS

"The book provides a wealth of detail and is strongly recommended for anyone wishing to gain a deeper knowledge of the rich, strange worlds [Borges] created." - THE LINGUIST

"This is a worthwhile read for those interested in Borges's works, especially anyone wishing to learn about the ways in which Borges subtly incorporates elements from his personal life into his fictions. Stephens does indeed succeed in presenting us with readings that take these biographical aspects into account without being overly reductive." - MLR

"[...] brilliant observations about particular texts abound." - BULLETIN OF SPANISH STUDIES