Colonial Latin American Literature: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

A vivid account of the literary culture of the Spanish-speaking Americas from the time of Columbus to Latin American Independence, this Very Short Introduction explores the origins of Latin American literature in Spanish and tells the story of how Spanish literary language developed and flourished in the New World. A leading scholar of colonial Latin American literature, Rolena Adorno examines the writings that debated the justice of the Spanish conquests, described the novelties of New World nature, expressed the creativity of Hispanic baroque culture in epic, lyric, and satirical poetry, and anticipated Latin American Independence. The works of Spanish, creole, and Amerindian authors highlighted here, including Bartolomï¿1⁄2 de las Casas, Felipe Guaman Poma, Sor Juana Inï¿1⁄2s de la Cruz, and Andrï¿1⁄2s Bello, have been chosen for the merits of their writings, their participation in the larger literary and cultural debates of their times, and their resonance among readers today.About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam. A vivid account of the literary culture of the Spanish-speaking Americas from the time of Columbus to Latin American Independence, this Very Short Introduction explores the origins of Latin American literature in Spanish and tells the story of how Spanish literary language developed and flourished in the New World. A leading scholar of colonial Latin American literature, Rolena Adorno examines the writings that debated the justice of the Spanish conquests, described the novelties of New World nature, expressed the creativity of Hispanic baroque culture in epic, lyric, and satirical poetry, and anticipated Latin American Independence. The works of Spanish, creole, and Amerindian authors highlighted here, including Bartolomé de las Casas, Felipe Guaman Poma, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, and Andrés Bello, have been chosen for the merits of their writings, their participation in the larger literary and cultural debates of their times, and their resonance among readers today. About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 14 List of illustrations......Page 16 Introduction......Page 20 1 First encounters, first doubts......Page 31 2 Oviedo and Las Casas......Page 40 3 The polemics of possession......Page 54 4 The conquest of Mexico......Page 61 5 A North American sojourn......Page 75 6 Epic accomplishments......Page 82 7 Urban Baroque......Page 96 8 Baroque plenitude......Page 114 9 On to independence......Page 129 References......Page 146 Further reading......Page 152 B......Page 158 C......Page 159 D......Page 160 G......Page 161 J......Page 162 N......Page 163 P......Page 164 S......Page 165 V......Page 166 Z......Page 167 Explores the origins of Latin American literature in Spanish and tells the story of how Spanish literary language developed and flourished in the New World. Examines the writings that debated the justice of the Spanish conquests, described the novelties of New World nature, expressed the creativity of Hispanic baroque culture in epic, lyric, and satirical poetry, and anticipated Latin American Independence. The works of Spanish, creole, and Amerindian authors highlighted here, including Bartolomes de las Casas, Felipe Guaman Poma, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, and Andes Bello An account of the literature of the Spanish-speaking Americas from the time of Columbus to Latin American Independence, this book examines the origins of colonial Latin American literature in Spanish, the writings and relationships among major literary and intellectual figures of the colonial period, and the story of how Spanish literary language developed and flourished in a new context. Authors and works have been chosen for the merits of their writings, their participation in thelarger debates of their era, and their resonance with readers today Cover 1 Contents 14 List of illustrations 16 Introduction 20 1 First encounters, first doubts 31 2 Oviedo and Las Casas 40 3 The polemics of possession 54 4 The conquest of Mexico 61 5 A North American sojourn 75 6 Epic accomplishments 82 7 Urban Baroque 96 8 Baroque plenitude 114 9 On to independence 129 References 146 Further reading 152 Index 158 A 158 B 158 C 159 D 160 E 161 F 161 G 161 H 162 I 162 J 162 K 163 L 163 M 163 N 163 O 164 P 164 Q 165 R 165 S 165 T 166 U 166 V 166 W 167 Y 167 Z 167 An account of the literature of the Spanish-speaking Americas from the time of Columbus to Latin American Independence, this book examines the origins of colonial Latin American literature in Spanish, the writings and relationships among major literary and intellectual figures of the colonial period, and much more