Selected Writings of Andres Bello (Library of Latin America)

Andres Bello was a towering figure in nineteenth-century Latin America. Poet, politician, educator, essayist, philosopher, he encompassed an enormous spectrum of concerns, wielded astonishing influence, and played a major role in shaping the national identities of newly independent Latin American countries. Indeed, in North America perhaps only Thomas Jefferson presents a figure of comparable scope and stature, and Bello is as crucial and as famous in Latin America as Jefferson is in the United States. Nearly every city in Latin America has its Andres Bello Avenue, its Andres Bello statue, even its Andres Bello university. He held several key government positions, authored Chile's civil code, launched several newspapers, wrote prodigiously on a vast array of subjects, and implemented important educational reforms. Yet until now his work has remained virtually unknown to English-speaking readers. The Selected Writings of Andres Bello, edited by Ivan Jaksic, brilliantly succeeds both in representing the full range of Bello's contribution and in giving us a coherent picture of his thought. The selections gathered here explore such subjects as grammar and philology, constitutional reform, the aims of education, international relations, historiography, Latin and Roman Law, government and society, and many others. Throughout his work, Bello's central concerns with language, education, law, and the nature of responsible government and responsible citizenship, appear again and again. In one essay, Bello traces the evolution of writing from the earliest pictorial symbols to the development of an alphabet capable of communicating abstract ideas. In another, he argues that representative government, more than any other, depends upon a literate and educated citizenry. And in another, he asserts that freedom requires laws that are equally observed by everyone. "Can there be greater injustice," he asks, "than a readiness to trample on the rights of others, while trying to have one's own rights religiously observed?" In these and many other essays, Bello writes with grace, extraordinary insight, and a clear-headed vision of what would be necessary to provide a sustainable order for the fledgling republics of Latin America. More than any of his contemporaries, Bello provides the crucial bridge between the cast-off colonial culture of the Spanish empire and the promising beginnings of the new nation-states. As part of the Library of Latin America series,The Selected Writings of Andres Bello gives us a generous sampling of a gifted and graceful thinker who must be included in any understanding of the origins and development of Latin America. Andres Bello was a towering figure in nineteenth-century Latin America. Poet, politician, educator, essayist, philosopher, he encompassed an enormous spectrum of concerns, wielded astonishing influence, and played a major role in shaping the national identities of newly independent Latin American countries. Indeed, in North America perhaps only Thomas Jefferson presents a figure of comparable scope and stature, and Bello is as crucial and as famous in Latin America as Jefferson is in the United States. Nearly every city in Latin America has its Andres Bello Avenue, its Andres Bello statue, even its Andres Bello university. He held several key government positions, authored Chile's civil code, launched several newspapers, wrote prodigiously on a vast array of subjects, and implemented important educational reforms. Yet until now his work has remained virtually unknown to English-speaking readers. The Selected Writings of Andres Bello , edited by Ivan Jaksic, brilliantly succeeds both in representing the full range of Bello's contribution and in giving us a coherent picture of his thought. The selections gathered here explore such subjects as grammar and philology, constitutional reform, the aims of education, international relations, historiography, Latin and Roman Law, government and society, and many others. Throughout his work, Bello's central concerns with language, education, law, and the nature of responsible government and responsible citizenship, appear again and again. In one essay, Bello traces the evolution of writing from the earliest pictorial symbols to the development of an alphabet capable of communicating abstract ideas. In another, he argues that representative government, more than any other, depends upon a literate and educated citizenry. And in another, he asserts that freedom requires laws that are equally observed by everyone. "Can there be greater injustice," he asks, "than a readiness to trample on the rights of others, while trying to have one's own rights religiously observed?" In these and many other essays, Bello writes with grace, extraordinary insight, and a clear-headed vision of what would be necessary to provide a sustainable order for the fledgling republics of Latin America. More than any of his contemporaries, Bello provides the crucial bridge between the cast-off colonial culture of the Spanish empire and the promising beginnings of the new nation-states. As part of the Library of Latin America series, The Selected Writings of Andres Bello gives us a generous sampling of a gifted and graceful thinker who must be included in any understanding of the origins and development of Latin America. Contents......Page 8 SERIES EDITORS' INTRODUCTION......Page 12 NOTE ON THE AUTHOR AND THE EDITOR......Page 16 CHRONOLOGY OF ANDRES BELLO......Page 18 PREFACE......Page 22 NOTE ON THE SOURCES AND TRANSLATION......Page 26 INTRODUCTION......Page 28 I: LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE......Page 58 El Repertorio Americano: Prospectus......Page 60 Allocution to Poetry......Page 64 Ode to Tropical Agriculture......Page 86 La Araucana, Don Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga......Page 95 A Short Essay on the Origin and Progress of the Art of Writing......Page 105 Notes on the Advisability of Simplifying and Standardizing Orthography in America......Page 117 Orthography......Page 129 Prologue: Ideological Analysis of the Tenses of the Spanish Conjugation......Page 142 Spanish Grammar......Page 145 Prologue: Grammar of the Spanish Language......Page 153 Notes to Part I......Page 160 II: EDUCATION AND HISTORY......Page 164 On the Aims of Education and the Means of Promoting It......Page 166 The Study of Jurisprudence......Page 174 Latin and Roman Law......Page 176 Address Delivered at the Inauguration of the University of Chile......Page 181 Address Delivered at the Opening of the Colegio Santo Tomás......Page 195 Report on the Progress of Public Instruction for the Five-Year Period, 1844–1848......Page 200 Commentary on "Investigations on the Social Influence of the Spanish Conquest and Colonial Regime in Chile"......Page 211 Commentary on "Historical Sketch of the Constitution of the Government of Chile during the First Period of the Revolution, 1810 to 1814"......Page 226 The Craft of History......Page 232 Notes to Part II......Page 241 III: GOVERNMENT, LAW, AND INTERNATIONAL, RELATIONS......Page 244 Letter to Servando Teresa de Mier......Page 246 American Politics......Page 249 Monarchies in America......Page 251 On Relations with Spain......Page 252 American Congress......Page 270 Letter to Antonio Leocadio Guzmán......Page 282 Principles of International Law......Page 286 Reforms to the Constitution......Page 312 Observance of the Laws......Page 318 Civil Code: Presentation of the Bill to the Congress......Page 327 Government and Society......Page 344 Letter to Manuel Ancízar......Page 348 Notes to Part III......Page 350 A......Page 354 B......Page 355 C......Page 356 E......Page 357 G......Page 358 H......Page 359 J......Page 360 L......Page 361 M......Page 362 O......Page 363 P......Page 364 S......Page 365 U......Page 367 Z......Page 368 Contains Translations Of A Broad Selection Of Poetry, Essays, And Speeches Illustrating Richness And Complexity Of Bello's Thought As A Key Intellectual Figure In The Construction Of A New Political Order In Postindependence Latin America. Extracted From Obras Completas (see Hlas 48:5125), Most Selections Are Unabridged. Eloquent Yet Accessible Translations. Jaksić's Essay Analyzes Bello's Blueprint For Nation-building, Language, Education, History, And Law, And Includes Notes And Chronology. Highly Recommended For The Classroom And The General Reader--handbook Of Latin American Studies, V. 58. I. Language And Literature. El Repertorio Americano: Prospectus. Allocution To Poetry. Ode To Tropical Agriculture. La Araucana, Don Alonso De Ercilla Y Zuniga. A Short Essay On The Origin And Progress Of The Art Of Writing. Notes On The Advisability Of Simplifying And Standardizing Orthography In America. Orthography. Prologue: Ideological Analysis Of The Tenses Of The Spanish Conjugation. Spanish Grammar. Prologue: Grammar Of The Spanish Language -- Ii. Education And History. On The Aims Of Education And The Means Of Promoting It. The Study Of Jurisprudence. Latin And Roman Law. Address Delivered At The Inauguration Of The University Of Chile. Address Delivered At The Opening Of The Colegio Santo Tomas. Report On The Progress Of Public Instruction For The Five-year Period, 1844-1848. Commentary On Investigations On The Social Influence Of The Spanish Conquest And Colonial Regime In Chile / Jose Victorino Lastarria. Commentary On Historical Sketch Of The Constitution Of The Government Of Chile During The First Period Of The Revolution, 1810 To 1814 / Jose Victorino Lastarria. The Craft Of History -- Iii. Government, Law, And International Relations. Letter To Servando Teresa De Mier. American Politics. Monarchies In America. On Relations With Spain. American Congress. Letter To Antonio Leocadio Guzman. Principles Of International Law. Reforms To The Constitution. Observance Of The Laws. Civil Code: Presentation Of The Bill To The Congress. Government And Society. Letter To Manuel Ancizar. Andrés Bello ; Translated From The Spanish By Frances M. López-morillas ; Edited, With An Introduction And Notes By Iván Jaksić. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Andrés Bello was a towering figure in nineteenth-century Latin America, as influential and as famous there as Thomas Jefferson is in the United States. Poet, politician, educator, essayist, philosopher, he wielded astonishing influence and played a major role in shaping the national identities of newly independent Latin American countries. He held several key government positions, authored Chile's civil code, launched several newspapers, wrote prodigiously on a vast array of subjects, and implemented important educational reforms.Available here in English for the first time, the Selected Writings of Andrés Bello, edited by Iván Jaksic, gathers wide-ranging selections that explore such subjects as grammar and philology, constitutional reform, the aims of education, international relations, historiography, Latin and Roman Law, government and society, and many others. The Selected Writings of Andrés Bello gives us a generous sampling of a gifted thinker who must be included in any understanding of the origins and development of Latin America." -- Back cover Annotation. Andrés Bello was a towering figure in nineteenth-century Latin America, as influential and as famous there as Thomas Jefferson is in the United States. Poet, politician, educator, essayist, philosopher, he wielded astonishing influence and played a major role in shaping the national identities of newly independent Latin American countries. He held several key government positions, authored Chile's civil code, launched several periodicals, wrote prodigiously on a vast array of subjects, and implemented important educational reforms. Available here in English for the first time, theSelected Writings of Andrés Bello, edited by Iván Jaksic, gathers wide-ranging selections that explore such subjects as grammar and philology, constitutional reform, the aims of education, international relations, historiography, Latin and Roman Law, government and society, and many others. TheSelected Writings of Andrés Bellogives us a generous sampling of a gifted thinker who must be included in any understanding of the origins and development of Latin America Andrés Bello was a towering figure in nineteenth-century Latin America, as influential and as famous there as Thomas Jefferson is in the United States. Poet, politician, educator, essayist, philosopher, he wielded astonishing influence and played a major role in shaping the national identities of newly independent Latin American countries. He held several key government positions, authored Chile's civil code, launched several periodicals, wrote prodigiously on a vast array of subjects, and implemented important educational reforms. Available here in English for the first time, the Selected Writings of Andrés Bello, edited by Iván Jaksic, gathers wide-ranging selections that explore such subjects as grammar and philology, constitutional reform, the aims of education, international relations, historiography, Latin and Roman Law, government and society, and many others. The Selected Writings of Andrés Bello gives us a generous sampling of a gifted thinker who must be included in any understanding of the origins and development of Latin America. This volume includes a selection of Bello's most important writings in the areas of language and literature, politics, education and history. His life spanned the late colonial period, the independence movement, and the early republican era, to which he made numerous contributions.