A panorama of literature by Latinos, whether born or resident in the United States. This volume, documenting the linguistic and cultural diversity of Latino literary output in the United States, offers an exciting introduction for non-specialist readers. Unique in its scope and perspective, it focuses on variousliterary genres, and cinema, related to Latinos. Each essay considers not only Latino writers who were born or raised in the United States, but also Latin American writers who took up residence in the United States but may also beconsidered part of the literary scene of their countries of origin. Rather than follow one specific mode of organization and presentation, each contributor has offered his or her original perspective on the subject matter or theme. The result is an inclusive spectrum of the voices of the U.S. Latin American diaspora, illuminating the rich and complex culture of Latinos. Carlota Caulfield is Professor of Spanish and Spanish-American Studies at Mills College, California. Darien J. Davis is Associate Professor of History and Latin American Studies at Middlebury College, Vermont. CONTRIBUTORS: Eva Bueno, Carlota Caulfield, Elizabeth Coonrod Martinez, DarienJ. Davis, Jorge Febles, Lydia Gil, Armando Gonzalez-Perez, Patricia M. Montilla, Vincent Spina, Antonio Tosta, Sergio Waisman

Confluence Narratives: Ethnicity, History and Nation-Making in the Americas explores how a collection of contemporary novels calls attention to the impact of ethnicity on national identities in the Americas. These historical narratives portray the cultural encounters-the conflicts and alliances, peaceful borrowings and violent seizures-that have characterized the history of the American continents since the colonial period. In the second half of the twentieth century, North and South American readers have witnessed a steady output of novels that revisit moments of cultural confluence as a means of revising national histories. Confluence Narratives proposes that these historical novels, published in such places as Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, the United States, and Canada, make up a key literary genre in the Americas. The genre links the various parts of the hemisphere together through three common historical experiences: colonization, slavery, and immigration. Luciano Tosta demonstrates how numerous texts from the United States, Canada, Spanish America, the Caribbean, and Brazil fall into the genre. The book focuses on four case studies from ethnic groups in the Americas: Amerindians, Afro-descendants, Jewish Americans, and Japanese Americans. Tosta uses the experience of the American nations as a springboard to problematize the concept of the contemporary nation, an identity marked by border-crossings and other experiences of deterritorialization. Based on the exploration of "confluence narratives," Tosta argues that the "contemporary" nation is not as contemporary as one may think. Informed by postcolonial theory and transnational and ethnic studies, this book offers an important comparative study for and of inter-American literature. Its analysis of the representation of cultural encounters within distinctive national histories underscores the complex nature of 'otherness' in the Americas, as well as the inherently transcultural aspect of a trans-continental American identity.

Ideal for high school and undergraduate students, this one-stop reference explores everything that makes up modern Brazil, including its geography, politics, pop culture, social media, daily life, and much more. Home to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games-and one of the world's fastest-growing economies-Brazil is quickly becoming a prominent player on the international stage. This book captures the essence of the nation and its people in a unique, topically organized volume. Narrative chapters written by expert contributors examine geography, history, government and politics, economics, society, culture, and contemporary issues, making Brazil an ideal one-stop reference for high school and undergraduate students. Coverage on religion, ethnicity, marriage and sexuality, education, literature and drama, art and architecture, music and dance, food, leisure and sport, and media provides a comprehensive look at this giant South American country-the largest nation in Latin America as well as the fifth largest nation in the world. Students will be engaged by up-to-the-minute coverage of topics such as daily life, social media, and pop culture in Brazil. Sidebars and photos highlight interesting facts and people, while a glossary, a chart of holidays, and an annotated bibliography round out the work. Provides a one-stop reference for students of geography, world cultures, anthropology, social studies, current events, and Latin American studies Differs from other works in that it combines coverage of the geography, history, politics, and economy of Brazil with entries on society, culture, and contemporary issues Includes a Facts and Figures section and Holidays chart that provides readers with a quick overview of Brazil Covers hot, new topics such as social media, Internet use, and consumer culture