The Second Edition includes selections by 47 authors representing the most widely taught genres-narrative poetry, lyric verse, the short story, the novel (in selections), the letter, the biographical essay, and the personal memoir. Eleven new authors introduce students to contemporary writing and give increased attention to important women writers. While selections have not been simplified, they are brief enough to be read in a single assignment. Author introductions, full annotations, and a through Spanish-English end-vocabulary help students understand each reading; Preguntas, Temas, and new Debates and Comparaciones, as well as new appendixes of literary terms and literary periods, encourage a deeper consideration of the literature.