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Though Santa, by Federico Gamboa, is one of the most analyzed novels in Mexico, in the period that goes from the end of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth, one has to admit that an approach to his contemporary readers is still necessary. In this article, I propose some ideas with regards to the reception of the novel during the Porfiriato, as well as to the modernity of Santa and the divorce established between the critique and the literature in the period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a postcolonial reading of some passages of the famous book by Pascale Casanova, The World Republic of Letters (2004). It makes visible French assumptions that sustain Casanova's interpretation of Latin American modernity. Playing with the tide of an old film by William Friedkin, the author names the narrative based on these assumptions, The French Connection. He analyzes three striking key moments in its development within the book of Casanova. Firstly, the moment of literary independence that would be obtained by Ruben Darío at the end of the 19th century; secondly, the moment of the liberating discover)' of “authentic" Latin American identity that would occur in Paris during the avant-garde era, and lastly, the global recognition that would come in the 1960s with the literature of the Boom novels. The author argues for a change of perspective beyond the myth of French universalism which may allow us to understand France, its society, its peculiarities and characteristics, within the context of the strategies, the logic and the beliefs that nourish its complex power relationship with Latin American culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of this essay is "the poor devil," specifically a literary version of that type. Bolaño's work, especially The Savage Detectives, presents an extensive repertoire of "poor devils," characters who have no importance, or who cannot be set or fit well into a literary tradition. In a way it is the opposite of memory: that which is not remembered and lives permanently in obscurity. Nevertheless, this figure can also serve as a methodological tool to thoroughly study a literary tradition, Latin American literary culture of the 20th century in Bolaño's case, and thus its value as a critical category. The poor devil resides in the border between the visible and the invisible, the valid and the worthless, standing for all that a literary culture wants to dismiss or "make invisible." In many ways the poor devil functions as a border that draws limits within a literary culture, to mark its times, levels, and also its contradictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a review of the papers presented in the issue that revolve around the writing of 20th century Peruvian author José María Arguedas, and discusses the need to reread the works of Arguedas as the 21st century begins. The author asserts that the 21st century's trends of globalization and transculturation make Arguedas' work, which offers and preserves glimpses into often-marginalized Quechuan and Andean cultures, increasingly relevant to the study of contemporary Latin American literature.

The article presents the theory that violence, with particular attention to crimes against humanity, as experienced in Latin American literature is a response to the globalization of the literary market and the common associations of Latin America with revolution and rebellion. The connection in post-dictatorial Latin American literature between human rights and financial globalization is explored, with the suggestion that such violence in Latin American literature may give a false image of the region to international readers. Books and stories such as "El Desierto" by Chilean author Carlos Franz, "Abril Rojo" by Santiago Roncagliolo, and "La Muerte y la Brújula" by Jorge Luis Borges are discussed with respect to the global theme of human rights.

The article discusses the process of globalization of Latin American literature and the strong need of Latin American authors to create a geographic, ethnic and literary identity. The writers of the 1960s-1970s Latin American literary boom and after, into the 1990s, demonstrated awareness of self, expressed through autobiography or fiction. Literature began to focus on the exile of the narrator, which is cited as a representation of the author who cannot participate in the literary course of history. Modernization required self-representation, the author suggests, so as to leave a permanent legacy of one's contribution to Latin American narrative.

The article focuses on the study of literature and culture in Latin America and the need for its ideological and cultural independence. The author discusses the current dependence on literary/cultural perspectives from the United States and proposes several aspects that need to be addressed including the development of cultural studies, regional cultural policies and literary studies that are distinctively Latin American.

The article discusses the history of artistic movement Surrealism in Latin America, with a focus on literary production. It is the author's view that contrary to the common opinion, surrealism did not take root in Latin America, and except for some texts of Mexican poet Octavio Paz, Latin American surrealist literature is rather scarce. Topics discussed include points of disagreement between surrealism and Latin American social conditions, magic realism, and nationalism in Latin American literature.

The article presents an analysis of the book "Blanca Sol (novela social)" by Peruvian author Mercedes Cabello de Carbonera, with a focus on the main character of the novel. It is the author's view that contrary to the common opinion, "Blanca Sol (novela social)" is not a feminist novel, but a hybrid between romanticism and naturalism. Topics discussed include Latin American society during the 18th century, women's social conditions, and social conveniences.

The article discusses the studies of the Peruvian literary avant-garde of the first half of the 20th century during the 1980s. The author presents an overview of the bibliography on Peruvian avant-gardism published in Peru during the 1980s. Particular focus is given to the book "El pez de oro" by Gamaliel Churata, published in 1957 and republished in 1987. The author also offers a brief analysis of the literary work of the Peruvian vanguard, along with a description of its main subjects, publication, and activities.

This article presents a speech given by the author at the LASA (Latin American Studies Association) conference, which was held in Chicago in September of 1998. In it, he discusses the state of Latin American studies, particularly in regards to literature. He comments on the relationship between history and Latin American studies, especially the influence of the colonial era. Literary genres unique to the region, such as testimonial literature and postmodernism, are also explored.

This article discusses the state of Latin American cultural studies based on an anthology organized by the Asociación Internacional de Literatura Comparada and edited by Ana Pizarro titled "América Latina: Palavra, literatura e cultura." The author comments on the essays within the book, which include studies on tradition, indigenous cultures, and transculturation in Latin America, as well as their influence on literature in the region. She also examines the development of the literary genre of the avant-garde (vanguardia) in Latin America.

This article provides a literary criticism of Latin American essays written during the 19th century regarding the notion of Nuestra América (Our America), or a Latin American identity distinct from Europe and the United States. The author comments on the amalgamation of indigenous and European cultures explored in essays by such authors as José Cecilio del Valle, José Victorino Lastarria, and Francisco Bilbao.

This article discusses the thought of Peruvian author and critic Antonio Cornejo Polar regarding the historiography of Latin American colonial literature. The author describes the three main areas of focus for Cornejo Polar, which include literary criticism, cultural criticism, and metacriticism. She also comments on the influence of indigenous culture on literature in Latin America, particularly during the colonial period. The relationship between literature and cultural studies of this region is also explored.

This article discusses the history of criticism of Latin American literature. The author comments on the relationship between the political situation in Latin America and the literary styles that were popular during the 1990s, which often reflected Latin American politics. He also examines the role of historicism and language, including Spanish, Portuguese, and English, in literary criticism written at the time. A distinction is made between the first and second historicism, which reflect different eras of Latin American history and culture.

An introduction to the journal is presented, in which the editors discuss the subject of Latin American literature and its role in the civilizing process of the region.

This article discusses the development of the Centro de Estudios Literarios Antonio Cornejo Polar (CELACP), an educational center for literary studies in Peru named after the late Peruvian author and critic. The author comments on Cornejo Polar's influence on the Latin American literary tradition and criticism. He also describes the main purpose of the institution, which was set up to continue the intellectual production of Cornejo Polar, promote literary research, and provide forums for academic conferences and educational courses.

The article presents an introduction to the journal, in which the editor discusses topics explored in this issue including vanguard literary movements in Latin America, the publication's objectives of literary and academic discourse, and Latin American literary criticism.