The Mad Toy

"Unleashing a wave of petty crime on 1920s Buenos Aires, stealing books and light bulbs from liibraries and dreaming of show-stopping murders, Silvio Astier and his gang embody the disaffection of youth ... Silvio despairs of the state of his life, which steadfstly fails to match his intellectual aspirations and scientific dreams ... At times, the tide seems about to change but fate or reality intervene and Silvio seems destined to be unable to better his lot. Arlt's writing provides a snapshot of Argentina at a formative time in its history and embodies the human condition with is ultra realistic depiction of the highs and lows of daily existence"--Jacket flap.