Under the Jaguar Sun

Under the Jaguar Sun, available for the first time in Penguin Modern Classics, takes readers on a mesmerising journey through three distinct tales that explore the senses and their profound connections to human experience.

In the first story, a couple embarks on an epicurean journey across Mexico, tantalised by the idea of a particular ingredient that evokes ancient rituals of human sacrifice. Their adventure is a tantalising exploration of taste and its historical echoes.

Meanwhile, in another tale, a king, delicately poised on his throne, relies solely on the sounds that enfold him. The familiar patterns of these sounds hold the fragile peace in his kingdom, guarding him from the uprisings plotted by the conspirators that lurk around him.

Lastly, delight in the sensual chase of three men, each desperately in search of the mysterious scents associated with women who have captivated them. From a Count frequenting Madame Odile's perfumery to a London drummer navigating past lifeless, splayed bodies, their quests illuminate the power of scent, memory, and desire.

Under the Jaguar Sun is a testament to Italo Calvino's brilliance in weaving stories that are both sensory and cerebral, inviting readers to ponder the myriad ways in which the senses shape our understanding of the world.