The Latino Reader: Essential Hispanic American Literature Anthology
"Compelling and enlightening" (Booklist), The Latino Reader covers nearly five centuries of an important American literary tradition in this groundbreaking anthology featuring a wide range of Latino voices.
"Makes evident that works in Spanish have always been with us, helping to define and move American culture forward."--Nicolás Kanellos, founder and director of Arte Público Press
Comprehensive Collection Spanning Five Centuries
This anthology presents an extensive range of Latino voices and perspectives, beginning with Cabeza de Vaca's mid-sixteenth-century writings and extending through contemporary works from Cristina García and Sandra Cisneros. Editors Harold Augenbraum and Margarite Fernández Olmos have assembled history, memoirs, letters, essays, fiction, poetry, and drama into this essential collection.
Diverse Literary Forms and Voices
The Latino Reader features work by writers not usually associated with the Latino tradition, notably poems by William Carlos Williams and fiction by John Rechy. This inclusive approach highlights the substantial contribution Latino culture has made to American literature, revealing connections and influences often overlooked in traditional literary studies.
Academic and Cultural Significance
Ideal for college courses, cultural studies programs, and readers interested in Hispanic American literary heritage, this paperback anthology serves as both an educational resource and an engaging introduction to Latino literary traditions. The collection demonstrates how works in Spanish have continuously shaped and advanced American culture throughout history.
About the Editor
Harold Augenbraum, executive director of the National Book Foundation, is a noted author, editor, and translator. His works include the anthologies Growing Up Latino and Lengua Fresca, which were coedited with Ilan Stavans. Published by Harper Perennial, this anthology represents decades of scholarship in Hispanic American literature.
