In the last two decades Latin American literature has received great critical acclaim in the English-speaking world, although attention has been focused primarily on the classic works of male literary figures such as Borges, Paz, and Cortazar. More recently, studies have begun to evaluate the works of established women writers such as Sor Juana Ine

Cutting-edge and insightful discussions of Latin American literature and culture In the newly revised second edition of A Companion to Latin American Literature and Culture, Sara Castro-Klaren delivers an eclectic and revealing set of discussions on Latin American culture and literature by scholars at the cutting edge of their respective fields. The included essays--whether they're written from the perspective of historiography, affect theory, decolonial approaches, or human rights--introduce readers to topics like gaucho literature, postcolonial writing in the Andes, and baroque art while pointing to future work on the issues raised. This work engages with anthropology, history, individual memory, testimonio, and environmental studies. It also explores: A thorough introduction to topics of coloniality, including the mapping of the pre-Columbian Americas and colonial religiosity Comprehensive explorations of the emergence of national communities in New Imperial coordinates, including discussions of the Muisca and Mayan cultures Practical discussions of global and local perspectives in Latin American literature, including explorations of Latin American photography and cultural modalities and cross-cultural connections In-depth examinations of uncharted topics in Latin American literature and culture, including discussions of femicide and feminist performances and eco-perspectives Perfect for students in undergraduate and graduate courses tackling Latin American literature and culture topics, A Companion to Latin American Literature and Culture, Second Edition will also earn a place in the libraries of members of the general public and PhD students interested in Latin American literature and culture.

How did the nationalisms of Latin America's many countries--elaborated in everything from history and fiction to cookery--arise from their common backgrounds in the Spanish and Portuguese empires and their similar populations of mixed European, native, and African origins? "Beyond Imagined Communities: Reading and Writing the Nation in Nineteenth-Century Latin America," discards one answer and provides a rich collection of others.

These essays began as a critique of the argument by Benedict Anderson's highly influential book "Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism." Anderson traces Latin American nationalisms to local circulation of colonial newspapers and tours of duty of colonial administrators, but this book shows the limited validity of these arguments.

Instead, "Beyond Imagined Communities" shows how more diverse cultural influences shaped Latin American nationalisms. Four historians examine social situations: Francois-Xavier Guerra studies various forms of political communication; Tulio Halperin Donghi, political parties; Sarah C. Chambers, the feminine world of salons; and Andrew Kirkendall, the institutions of higher education that trained the new administrators. Next, four critics examine production of cultural objects: Fernando Unzueta investigates novels; Sara Castro-Klaren, archeology and folklore; Gustavo Verdesio, suppression of unwanted archeological evidence; and Beatriz Gonzalez Stephan, national literary histories and international expositions.